The Cleveland Browns‘ secondary will have a throwback look this season, as former first-round pick Greg Newsome II will return to an outside cornerback position opposite Denzel Ward on a permanent basis.
Newsome, whom the Browns selected 26th overall out of Northwestern in the 2021 NFL draft, began his career on the outside. However, on-and-off struggles in that role combined with moderate injury concerns and the subsequent emergence of CB Martin Emerson Jr., who the Browns drafted one year after Newsome, led the team to move Newsome into a slot role as the nickel cornerback on an essentially permanent basis last season.
It remains unclear if Cleveland ever shopped Newsome in a potential trade, though multiple analysts discussed the cornerback as a potential candidate for a move based on his perceived unhappiness with his demotion. Luckily for the Browns they didn’t deal Newsome, and he will now start on the outside after Emerson tore his Achilles tendon during the preseason and will miss all of 2025.
Newsome spoke with reporters on Monday, September 1, about returning to a more prominent role for the defense and was also candid about how he sees that migration within the team structure.
“My goal is not to fill any void,” Newsome said of replacing Emerson. “As a player, I think I have the ability of any cornerback in the league. So my job is not to fill a void. My job is just to go out there and help my team win. So I’m back to my natural position. I’m super excited to do that, and that’s what I was put on this earth to do.”
Greg Newsome Has Chance to Re-Define Career Heading Into Contract Year
GettyCornerback Greg Newsome II of the Cleveland Browns.
Newsome is entering the fifth-year team option on his rookie contract, which is worth a little north of $13 million.
He also made just shy of $13 million over the course of his first four seasons combined and is now heading into a contract year with a chance to prove himself at the position he prefers and one of real need around the league.
Given all that, there should be few cornerbacks more incentivized to put up a monster season. Though considering the Browns’ schedule, which starts with the Cincinnati Bengals and includes five consecutive matchups against 2024 playoff teams after that, Newsome is going to have his work cut out for him.
For instance, he will be focusing on either Ja’Marr Chase or Tee Higgins in Week 1, both of whom inked nine-figure contract extensions this offseason.
Greg Newsome Positioned to Play More Successfully for Browns on Outside During Second Opportunity
GettyCornerback Greg Newsome II of the Cleveland Browns.
Newsome said he is ready to return to the outside and has acquired knowledge from playing in the slot that will help him succeed as the Browns’ new CB2.
“That is the benefit of playing nickel and going back and forth and doing that my entire career. I feel like now I have more understanding of the game,” Newsome continued. “So being outside, I still will be able to see from the nickel’s eyes of everything: being able to see the formation, being able to get run and pass keys. So now going back outside, obviously, the focus will be on my man when I’m in man [coverage], and I don’t have to really worry about too much stuff inside. But I also will be able to see certain tells from playing inside.”
Cleveland is currently a 4.5-point home underdog against Cincinnati.
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