Shortly after the upcoming NFL Draft, teams will have key decisions to make by exercising or declining the fifth-year options on 2021 first-round picks.
The Browns will need to wait quite some time before finding themselves in the same situation given their lack of Day One selections over the past three years, but the team appears to have chosen a direction in the case of Greg Newsome.
Cleveland is expected to pick up the 23-year-old cornerback’s option, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com noted.
Newsome does not have a Pro Bowl invitation on his resume, but he has been a mainstay in the Browns’ backfield in each of his three seasons, logging a snap share of at least 86% every year. As a result, his 2025 option will cost $13.38M.
Newsome played primarily on the outside as a rookie, but in 2022, he split his time relatively evenly between the slot and the perimeter. The arrival of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz led to the expectation fellow starters Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson would see notable time on the inside this past season.
In spite of that, Newsome did wind up logging more time in the slot than on the outside.
The Northwestern product recorded his first career interception in 2023; his ball production also included a personal-best 14 pass deflections. In coverage, Newsome allowed a completion percentage of 56.7% and a passer rating of 74.8 as the nearest defender.
Those marks were also the best in his Cleveland tenure to date, and they produced a PFF grade of 69.6, in line with those of his previous campaigns. Given his age and statistical output, keeping Newsome in the fold for at least the next two years would be a reasonable decision.
However, the Browns already have Ward attached to a $20.1M-per-year deal, and Emerson, who notched four interceptions last season, will be eligible for an extension as early as next year. Especially given the cap constraints brought about by quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s fully guaranteed contract, keeping all three CB starters on the books over the long term would be challenging.
Acquiring Watson cost Cleveland its first-round pick in 2022, 2023 and 2024. As such, the team will need to wait several years before making a fifth-year option decision again.
In Newsome’s case, though, signs are pointing to at least a short-term move keeping him in the fold. A final decision will need to be made no later than the May 2 deadline.
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