The Cleveland Browns are in one of the worst situations in sports, and Bleacher Report‘s Kristopher Knox believes the team could trade Greg Newsome in the coming weeks. At 1-6, the Browns sit in the basement of the AFC North and are already looking toward the future. While Jameis Winston should keep the Browns somewhat competitive in 2024, the Deshaun Watson contract ensures this team will be stuck in mediocrity for the next two seasons. Playing like the NFL’s worst quarterback before his Achilles injury, Watson carries a fully guaranteed $72.9 million cap hit in the next two seasons.
Even if Watson was playing like an elite quarterback, the Browns would struggle to field a competitive roster with that type of financial commitment. With Watson being an active liability, the Browns must punt on the next two seasons. It’s time for the team to look toward the future, and Knox thinks that a Greg Newsome trade could give Cleveland some much-needed cap space and draft capital. While he probably wouldn’t fetch the largest returns, teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs could use him as they pursue a Super Bowl title.
Newsome has been a reliable starter, when healthy, since joining Cleveland as a 2021 first-round pick. He’s set to play on the fifth-year option in 2025, though, and trading him would clear next year’s $13.4 million salary from the books
Browns Could Trade Greg Newsome To Chiefs, Ravens
The Kansas City Chiefs are the NFL’s last undefeated team, but they’re not as perfect as their record suggests. While the team address the wide receiver issue with the DeAndre Hopkins trade, they must now do something about their secondary. After losing L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs had Jaylen Watson and Joshua Williams battle it out for the starting spot opposite Trent McDuffie. Watson won that battle handily and played well through the first six games of the season.
Unfortunately, the former fourth-round pick suffered a season-ending ankle injury, leaving Kansas City with considerable issues at the cornerback position. McDuffie is great, but someone else must step up in this secondary. With Kansas City also possessing one of the lowest sack rates in football, the team should solidify the secondary with a Greg Newsome trade. While he’s no All-Pro, the former first-round pick should fit into Kansas City’s defense and earn a starting role in no time. The Chiefs know just how important an opportunistic defense can be to a Super Bowl run, and Newsome increases the odds of Kansas City winning it all for the third straight season.
Ravens Going For It All
Now riding a five-game winning streak, the Baltimore Ravens are the hottest team in football. Led by MVP frontrunner Lamar Jackson and Offensive Player of the Year favorite Derrick Henry, opposing defenses don’t know how to stop this duo through the air or on the ground. However, winning in October doesn’t matter for a team like Baltimore, especially when the defense has so many flaws.
Despite their impressive record, the Ravens have a below-average defense. While Kyle Van Noy and first-round pick Odafe Oweh are doing their part, the secondary could use some help. First-round pick Nate Wiggins is struggling to adjust to NFL life, and a Greg Newsome trade could give Baltimore some much-needed veteran experience in the secondary. The only question is whether or not Cleveland would trade a key player to a division rival. Even though the Browns season is effectively over, nobody wants to help a hated rival win a Super Bowl.
Main Photo: Jeff Lange – USA Today Sports
