As the NFL offseason continues to develop, the Cleveland Browns now have their most important decision yet. They need to figure out what transitioning from Newsome II. The Browns should weigh their options with extreme caution. This further complicates his situation as a fully guaranteed salary of $13.4 million becomes guaranteed in 2025 for his fifth-year option. The team is currently sitting on $17.5 million in 2025 cap space. Yet they are facing a $35.4 million shortfall for 2026. The short-term financial squeeze is real. Once you introduce injury and performance metrics into the equation, it becomes a much greater challenge for the player and the franchise.
As far as Newsome on the field goes, the guy has proven he belongs. He posted very good yards per coverage snap, at 0.7 in 2022 and 0.9 in 2023. Adding to the Browns’ need for more depth at outside cornerback is teammate Martin Emerson’s recent season-ending Achilles injury. Now, the team has an immediate need to fill this position. As the possibility of a Knicks-Browns trade heats up, the stakes for both Newsome and Cleveland grow higher.
Financial Considerations for the Browns
The key element to understand in the Browns’ calculus on Newsome is the overall financial landscape. Sitting with only $17.5 million in cap space for 2025, the Browns will need to be judicious with their financial commitments as they move forward. Newsome’s $13.4 million guaranteed salary is astronomical. This is even more impressive given the context of the team’s difficult hand, as they are currently $35.4 million over budget for the upcoming season.
Getting rid of Newsome’s salary has been a major focus for the franchise. After all, they’re trying to keep the owners’ and players’ balance sheets in order while remaining competitive on the pitch. The other half of the story—the team’s recent injury woes—makes things even murkier. If Cleveland can’t find a trade that meets their needs, they might need to hang onto Newsome beyond their desire to do so.
Given these conditions, a new prospective trade would bring considerable financial relief. Moving Newsome would not only alleviate some of the immediate financial burden but set the stage for future roster moves as the team prepares for a more sustainable salary cap situation.
Performance Metrics and Trade Appeal
As much as the finances would have made sense moving forward, Greg Newsome II’s contributions from his play would be hard to argue against. When we look at his great 2022 and great 2023 side by side, with his above-average yards per coverage snap, he’s a guy who really has a huge high-value play asset. Teams looking to add to their secondary will find him to be a very enticing prospect. This is particularly the case for teams with lots of cap space, like the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders are in arguably the best place of any team with well over $90 million in open cap space for 2026. That fiscal latitude gives them the ability to get creative and take chances on players. Newsome has shown during the pre-draft process that he is very good in coverage. Here’s a hypothetical trade scenario that would help both teams. Newsome and a 2027 seventh-round pick would go to Las Vegas in exchange for Cleveland receiving a 2026 seventh-round pick.
Even as Newsome’s numbers add to his trade value, what’s availably ambiguous is his contract situation. Teams such as the Raiders will consider how well he may play versus the cost of assuming his guaranteed salary. This doubt may prove to be the deciding factor as to whether a deal ever comes together.
The Impact of Martin Emerson’s Injury
Now the recent injury to Martin Emerson is the last straw here, making things incredibly dicey for the Browns. With Emerson’s season-ending Achilles tear, an immediate need of finding a new outside cornerback arose. This development could force Cleveland to pivot with its trade approach to Newsome. If they choose to retain him, they’ll clearly be more dependent on his talents. He should be able to fill the gap left by Emerson’s departure.
The injury complicates any trade involving Newsome for the Browns to make happen. The organization’s depth has been sapped. Now, they face tough decision on re-signing a talented player vs. creating more valuable cap space. Cleveland’s front office should be sweating bullets over this bind. They are clearly trying to set themselves up to make choices which will affect this season, large impact the course of the team going forward.
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