Winning is a powerful drug in the NFL. When teams feel like they have a shot to win their division and host a playoff game, they will often do whatever it takes to find an edge. That's especially true near the trade deadline, when other teams are reluctant to turn down offers for their best players.
Late on Wednesday night, that exact thing happened when the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are 4-1, punted on the Tyson Campbell experience, a little over a year after extending his contract, in exchange for Cleveland Browns corner Greg Newsome.
A surprising move given the long-term security tied to Campbell. But the decision to acquire Newsome from Cleveland proves that the Jaguars are all in for 2025.
Newsome shifted back outside this year following the injury to Browns corner Martin Emerson, and he has played well for Cleveland. So why would the Browns trade him? Newsome is on the last year of his deal, and Cleveland obviously feels better about the Campbell contract and the player he is, compared to what Newsome projects to be.
For the Jaguars, however, you get out from under a contract the new regime had no part of, essentially receive a one-year rental on a flourishing corner, and can decide his future going forward after the season. To receive more insight on the move, I spoke with Adam Holt of A to Z Sports, who helps cover the AFC North.
"Not often you see a player who just received an extension get dealt. That's exactly what this is for Campbell, though. The Jags extended him on a four-year deal last summer, but they clearly weren’t sold on his long-term outlook after the start of this season. Newsome has been quite valuable for the Cleveland secondary this season, but he’s also on an expiring contract."
"For the Jags, they’re taking a massive swing, but it makes a ton of sense. Campbell probably wasn’t going to perform up to the standard of his deal in his role for Jacksonville, and Newsome fits in rather nicely with the Jaguars' defensive back group. It'll be interesting to see how he can improve the unit that has surprised plenty and leads the NFL in turnovers forced. Regardless, this is a deal nobody expected, but I like it a whole lot for the Jaguars." - Holt.
With the Indianapolis Colts also 4-1 and the Houston Texans surging with two straight wins, the Jaguars weren't going to rest on their laurels after beating the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, and they proved just that with this trade.
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