Giants To Extend CB Greg Newsome

It has been a whirlwind 13 months for Newsome, who went from the Browns to the Jaguars in a trade for fellow cornerback Tyson Campbell last October. Newsome served as a starter for the AFC South champion Jaguars, but they allowed him to reach the open market in March. The 26-year-old accepted the Giants’ $8MM offer (with $3MM in guarantees), and he is now gaining long-term security on a much more lucrative pact after playing just six games with the team.

Newsome, the 26th overall pick in the 2021 draft, began his career with a run of four-plus years in Cleveland. The former Northwestern Wildcat went on to combine for 43 passes defensed and four interceptions over 71 games (58 starts) with the Browns and Jaguars through last season. Newsome wasn’t guaranteed a starting job with the Giants coming into this year, but he and Deonte Banks (a 2023 first-rounder who had been written off as a bust) won first-team roles over Paulson Adebo during the summer.

Despite missing a Week 7 win over the Texans with a concussion, Newsome leads Giants cornerbacks in defensive snap share (77.32%). The 6-foot, 192-pounder has totaled 25 tackles, six pass breakups and a pick. As the nearest defender on 29 targets, Newsome has given up a paltry 55.2 completion percentage and held opposing signal-callers to a 61.4 passer rating.

Despite his solid traditional numbers, Pro Football Focus hasn’t been enamored of Newsome, whom it ranks just 67th among 102 qualifying corners (Banks is 34th). However, it’s clear the Giants regard Newsome as a capable starter who has been instrumental in their NFC East-leading 4-2-1 start. With Newsome playing a prominent role, the Giants’ defense ranks third in the NFL in passing yards per game, 11th in completion percentage, 12th in EPA against the pass and 13th in rating.

Having declined Banks’ fifth-year option for 2027 last spring, the Giants could lose one of their starting corners next offseason. Regardless of what happens with Banks, New York is no longer at risk of seeing Newsome walk out the door any time soon. At $15.33MM per year on his new deal, he now ranks 25th among corners in average annual salary. Newsome just went by Cordale Flott, who left the Giants to sign a three-year, $45MM contract with the Titans last March.