Trade proposal sees Raiders land former first-round pick

Even with the offseason heading into its closing stages, the Las Vegas Raiders could still use some reinforcements on defense.

With the Raiders losing several pieces in both the linebacker corps and secondary, both spots look questionable heading into minicamp. The Raiders have tried to make some moves this offseason, signing Jeremy Chinn and Eric Stokes to bolster the back of the defense while starting a new linebacker duo of Elandon Roberts and Devin White. However, the team is banking on these moves to work out, leaving the defense susceptible to opposing passing attacks if they do not.

However, an AFC rebuild could give the Raiders someone who could serve as a high-upside play.

The Raiders have the opportunity to do some beneficial business with mere months before the season.

In his list of trade targets that teams should make an offer for, Pro Football and Sports Network’s Brandon Austin identified Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II as someone the Raiders should have some interest in.

“Las Vegas’ front office should look to insert more talent and depth into this CB group. Greg Newsome II saw his role decrease last season after taking a step back in performance. He started just three games after making double-digit starts in each of his first three NFL seasons. He also missed the final four games due to injury,” Austin wrote.

“Newsome allowed a 112.5 passer rating on 51 targets. Still, he’s just 25 years old and a former first-round pick with three solid seasons under his belt. While his future in Cleveland appears uncertain, quality cornerbacks are hard to come by, so the Raiders may be willing to take a flier on another young player with upside — and hope that a clean bill of health can help him regain form.”

While there is a good chance Newsome bounces back in 2025, the Browns could look to trade the 2021 first-round pick anyway.

Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Newsome has seen his name pop up in trade rumors since last offseason. With Newsome losing his starting spot last season to Martin Emerson, he stands as an intriguing buy-low candidate for a summer trade. While the Browns could choose to wait until the trade deadline to see what options they have then, it is unlikely that they will want to lose Newsome for nothing.

The Raiders continue to be linked to cornerbacks on the market, and Newsome’s name is just the latest on the list.