Browns' latest trade raises alarms about GM Andrew Berry

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, right, and executive vice president, football operations and general manager Andrew Berry. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns' latest trade raises more questions about GM Andrew Berry's decision-making

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 9, 2025 8:02 AM ET

Andrew Berry has made several puzzling moves since becoming the Cleveland Browns general manager in January 2020. His latest is another head-scratcher.

On Wednesday night, the Browns sent cornerback Greg Newsome II and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for cornerback Tyson Campbell and a 2026 seventh-round pick (via ESPN's Adam Schefter). It's the second deal Cleveland has made this week.

On Tuesday, the Browns dealt quarterback Joe Flacco and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Cincinnati Bengals for a 2026 fifth-round pick. That transaction clearly made sense, especially after the 40-year-old signal-caller went 1-3 in four starts. But this trade doesn't.

Why this isn't a great move for Browns

Newsome — whom Cleveland selected with pick No. 26 of the 2021 NFL Draft — isn't elite, but he's a quality starter. Through five games with the Browns this season, Pro Football Focus gave the Northwestern product a slightly above-average 62.1 coverage grade. He also allowed zero touchdown catches during this stretch.

Campbell, meanwhile, is having one of the more disappointing years of his career. PFF gave the 2021 second-round pick a below-average 51.1 coverage grade through his first five games with Jacksonville. The Georgia product allowed three touchdown catches.

Another major Jaguars-Browns trade, per ESPN sources:

Jaguars get CB Greg Newsome and the Jets’ 2026 sixth-round pick from the Browns.

Browns get CB Tyson Campbell and the Eagles’ 2026 7th-round pick from the Jaguars.

The trade partners from the night of the 2025 draft now… pic.twitter.com/k04p48Dswf
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 9, 2025

Newsome is in the last year of his rookie contract. The Browns clearly didn't want to sign him to an extension, so seeing what he would fetch in a trade is logical. They don't have to worry about extending Campbell.

In July 2024, the Jaguars signed Campbell to a four-year, $76.5M extension that includes $53.4M in guaranteed money. This season, his base salary is $1.5M. Newsome, meanwhile, is set to make $13.37M this season.

Still, the Browns shouldn't trade for a player who's not clearly better than Newsome, a key piece of their passing defense, which is tied for fourth in the league in passing yards allowed (172.2). The corner was tied for second on the team in passes defended (three) through five weeks.

Browns fans have come to expect this from Berry, who has displayed questionable decision-making throughout his tenure. This includes trading for QB Deshaun Watson, who has a 9-10 starting record in three seasons with the club and is now rehabbing from an Achilles injury.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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