Soon after the upcoming draft, groups will have important conclusions to make by performing exercises or declining the fifth-calendar year alternatives on 2021 first-spherical picks. The Browns will have to have to wait very some time ahead of acquiring by themselves in the identical circumstance offered their deficiency of Day 1 options about the earlier three several years, but the workforce seems to have chosen a direction in the circumstance of Greg Newsome.
Cleveland is predicted to pick up the 23-year-old cornerback’s option, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com notes. Newsome does not have a Professional Bowl invitation on his resume, but he has been a mainstay in the Browns’ backfield in each individual of his a few seasons (logging a snap share of at the very least 86% every single 12 months). As a result, his 2025 alternative will price tag $13.38MM.
Newsome played mainly on the outside as a rookie, but in 2022 he break up his time reasonably evenly in between the slot and the perimeter. The arrival of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz led to the expectation fellow starters Denzel Ward and Martin Emerson would see noteworthy time on the inside this previous season. In spite of that, Newsome did wind up logging much more time in the slot than on the exterior.
The Northwestern products recorded his initial profession interception in 2023 his ball production also included a own best 14 move deflections. In protection, Newsome authorized a completion percentage of 56.7% and a passer ranking of 74.8 as the closest defender. People marks ended up also the ideal in his Cleveland tenure to date, and they generated a PFF grade of 69.6 (in line with people of his former strategies). Specified his age and statistical output, trying to keep Newsome in the fold for at minimum the next two many years would be a affordable final decision.
On the other hand, the Browns presently have Ward hooked up to a $20.1MM-for every-calendar year offer, and Emerson (who notched four interceptions final year) will be eligible for an extension as early as following 12 months. Specifically presented the cap constraints brought about by quarterback Deshaun Watson‘s absolutely certain deal, keeping all three CB starters on the textbooks above the very long expression would be demanding.
Getting Watson charge Cleveland its first-spherical decide on in 2022, 󈧛 and 󈧜. As such, the team will need to wait around various many years in advance of producing a fifth-calendar year alternative choice again. In Newsome’s case, although, signals are pointing to at minimum a brief-expression move trying to keep him in the fold. A last conclusion will need to have to be produced no later than the May 2 deadline.