Browns Trade Pitch Moves Young Starter to Raiders Despite Recent Comments

Over the past few seasons, reports have indicatedtthat the Cleveland Browns could move on from cornerback Greg Newsome. It’s been an unfortunate situation for Newsome, as he’s been one of the lone bright spots on the Browns roster. 

While Newsome is not perfect by any means, he’s been someone the Browns can trust when he’s on the field. He’s dealt with a few injuries, which is worrisome at just 25 years old, but he’s still managed to play in at least 12 games in every season of the first four of his career. 

What could Cleveland get for Greg Newsome?

The trade rumors haven’t stopped, as ESPN recently proposed an idea for him to be sent to the Las Vegas Raiders. They noted that while he’s a decent player, this would allow the Browns to save money, which they still need to do. 

Raiders receive: Greg Newsome II, 2027 seventh-round pick

Browns receive: 2026 seventh-round pick

“Newsome is due a fully guaranteed $13.4 million in 2025 on his fifth-year option, and I’d argue it’s an open question whether that makes him a positive or negative asset — hence the near-zero compensation listed here. Newsome posted career-worst numbers last season in terms of yards per coverage snap (1.4), EPA allowed (plus-10) and target rate (15%, though this was only a minor uptick). But there was a reason Cleveland picked up his option in April 2024, as he recorded better-than-average yards per coverage snap numbers in both 2022 (0.7) and 2023 (0.9).

“For the Browns, the most important part of this deal would be shedding Newsome’s salary. The Browns currently have $17.5 million in 2025 cap space, but they’re already $35.4 million in the red in 2026, per OverTheCap.com. In other words, they need the savings. Considering the team is a noncontender in 2025 and Newsome has just one fully guaranteed year left on his contract, it makes sense for Cleveland to want to move on,” Seth Walder wrote.

Will the Browns finally trade Greg Newsome?

Newsome has heard the trade rumors over the past few years and has even spoken about them multiple times. He most recently talked about them with the Akron Beacon Journal, noting that he wants to finish his career with the Cleveland Browns.

“I’ve said it since the day I was drafted, I want to be a Brown for life, and in order to do that I got to hold [up] my end of the bargain,” Newsome said, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. “The good thing is I’m starting this training camp healthy so I’m able to get out there and get the reps in before the season starts, and that’s my main goal. It’s always been my goal is to be a Brown for life, so I got to hold up my end of the bargain.”

Considering the Browns’ lack of success over the past decade, it’s a telling sign that someone like Newsome wants to stay around. 

One could argue that the team should look to move on from him while his value is as high as it might ever be, but it’s also fair to wonder if moving on from a player of his caliber when he wants to stay in Cleveland would be the right decision.