Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome has been mentioned in recent trade rumors, but fellow cornerback Denzel Ward does not want to see him go.
While speaking to reporters earlier this week, Ward urged the Browns to hold on to Newsome in order to preserve the team’s secondary.
“It’s very important [to keep us together],” Ward said, via the Browns’ official YouTube account. “I’ve been openly sharing that I want to keep us together. Even AB says all the time that you can’t have enough great corners on a team. That’s real. Guys go down and having the ability to match up with teams across the board. Whether that’s in the slot with Greg or outside with me and Martin [Emerson]. Being able to rotate and do different things. Having multiple No. 1 corners on a team is an ideal situation.”
Newsome is coming off of a 2023 campaign in which he played 14 games and registered 49 tackles, a half of a sack, a couple of interceptions, 14 passes defended and a defensive touchdown in what has been his most productive season to date.
The 23-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Northwestern, was selected by Cleveland with the 26th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He appeared in 12 contests during his rookie year, logging 37 tackles and nine passes defended. The following season, Newsome participated in 15 games and finished with 42 tackles, a half of a sack and six passes defended.
The Browns boasted the best passing defense in the NFL this past season, allowing just 164.7 passing yards per game. They also owned the league’s top defense overall.
Much of that was thanks in part to the combination of Ward, Newsome and Emerson in the defensive backfield, particularly in the case of Ward, who earned his third Pro Bowl appearance.
We’ll see if Cleveland’s front office heeds Ward’s advice.
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