Cornerback is one of the most pressing needs that the Las Vegas Raiders still have. Although it appears highly likely that the team will address this position early in the draft, there might be some interesting trade market options.
Greg Newsome II, a cornerback for the Cleveland Browns, is one player to watch. Dan Pizzuta of The 33rd Team thinks the Raiders would be a perfect fit for the former first-round pick if he were to move.
In a column published on March 23, Pizzuta stated, “The team has focused on building its defense after the Las Vegas Raiders hired Antonio Pierce.” “Jack Jones impressed once the New England Patriots claimed him off waivers, but Brandon Facyson is currently the No. 2 overall pick.
Although Newsome has started 39 games for the Browns in his three seasons, the team must quickly choose whether to pick his fifth-year option. He will be going into the last year of his contract if they say no. Cleveland could make a trade to add draft assets rather than have to pay.
Why Would Cleveland Browns Trade Greg Newsome II?
Greg Newsome II has been a solid cornerback for the Browns but nothing spectacular. He has two interceptions in three seasons and his 66.0 Pro Football Focus grade ranked 55th in the NFL. He’s only 23 and is showing flashes of getting better but the Browns may have needs elsewhere.
Dan Pizzuta explained why Cleveland could want to go in a different direction.
Pizzuta stated, “[Martin] Emerson would be the priority over Newsome if the Browns were going to extend another defensive back, though that would have to wait until after the 2024 season.” As things stand, Cleveland needs to decide by May regarding Newsome’s fifth-year option.
Newsome has been forced inside, with Ward and Emerson outside. Despite this, he did see more movement in the Schwartz defense, where he spent about 10% of his snaps in the box. The Browns have Cameron Mitchell, a fifth-round pick in 2023, on their roster if they wish to move on from Newsome. In his debut season, Mitchell showed some promise despite giving up a couple of big plays.
