The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns just completed a blockbuster trade! Along with a bunch of swaps of draft capital, cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Greg Newsome will trade places. This colossal trade is a reflection of each team’s plan as both move toward 2024 and beyond.
The Jaguars dealt Campbell after selecting him 33rd overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. In exchange to get Watson, they sent the Browns a 2026 seventh-round pick. In exchange, the Browns traded Newsome, the 26th overall pick of that same draft, to Jacksonville. They added a 2026 sixth-round pick into the package. This is the second trade between the two franchises in just six months.
Campbell, 25, was rewarded handsomely this offseason with a four-year extension worth $76.5 million, of which $53.4 million is guaranteed. In 2022, he put on a master class. He tallied three interceptions, forced one fumble, and recovered two fumbles while racking up a mind-boggling 15 pass breakups. That hamstring injury soured his 2023 season, forcing him to miss most of the year and play in just 11 games. In 2024, he was beset by injury issues again. Even in five games less, he still racked up 59 tackles and made six pass breakups.
And how unfortunate that Newsome is only 25 years old. At the moment, his deal is under a fifth-year option that’s valued at $13.38 million. He’s going to be an unrestricted free agent after this season. Through just five games this season, he’s tallied 23 tackles and recorded five pass breakups. The Browns had traded for the sixth-round pick they sent to Jacksonville from the New York Jets.
The seventh-rounder that the Jaguars traded had originally been acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles. This amount of strategic maneuvering on the margins illustrates both teams’ commitment to improving their rosters and smartly working through their available draft capital.
It’s all the more remarkable considering both players are making huge transitions to new teams. Their performances will be heavily scrutinized as they adjust to new roles and new defenses. The Jaguars aim to bolster their secondary with Campbell’s proven track record, while the Browns hope Newsome can contribute significantly in the remaining part of the season.
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