2024 NFL Draft: Josh Newton Scouting Report

Josh Newton enters the 2024 NFL draft with a boatload of experience following a long career at Louisiana-Monroe and TCU. Over five seasons at the two schools, Newton started an astounding 59 games. He did not miss a game over his whole career, which speaks to his great durability, especially considering he logged over 1,700 snaps just in his two seasons at TCU.

Newton was decently productive in his collegiate career, but his statistics don’t pop off the page considering the sheer number of snaps and games he played. He racked up seven interceptions, 152 tackles, and 35 PBUs. In his two seasons in the Big 12, Newton was voted all-conference both times, with a First-Team nod in 2022 and a Second-Team selection in 2023.

Strengths

Physical in press man coverage;

Good instincts and play recognition when playing a zone;

Willing to get his hands dirty in run support;

Short area quickness and good first step allow him to stay on the hip of receivers early in the route;

Challenges 50-50 jump balls well.

Weaknesses

Doesn’t have good straight line speed;

Struggled keeping up with NFL-caliber receivers down the field;

Lack of length will be detrimental against taller receivers downfield;

Ball skills leave a lot to be desired, too willing to play the man instead of the ball;

Will turn 24 early in his rookie season.

NFL Comparison: Coby Bryant

Projection: Early Day 3

Bottom Line on Josh Newton

Unfortunately for him, Josh Newton’s draft stock declined during his final collegiate season. He performed much better in 2022 than 2023. Some of that drop-off can be blamed on the way Newton was being utilized. While he can be a solid press man corner, Newton is better suited to sit back in a zone, read the quarterback, and break hard on passes. As a senior, he was playing more press man than he really should have been. This resulted in him getting beat down the field too much, especially by faster receivers. His relatively-slow 40-yard dash time along with his tape points to him struggling in the NFL when it’s time to turn and run with a speedy receiver.

Despite the disappointing senior season, Newton is still certainly a prospect with some upside. He can play in the slot or on the outside; teams will like that versatility. Further, he is more than willing to get involved in run support, which his more than 150 tackles in college can attest to. Ideally, Newton would get drafted by a team that plays more zone coverage than man. Letting him sit back and react to what happens in front of him will be how teams get the most out of Newton in the NFL. In the right scheme, Josh Newton has the talent and intelligence to be a productive player.

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