“Could he be the missing piece?” – Eagles eye blockbuster move for former first-rounder Greg Newsome II as secondary reshuffle looms ahead of joint Browns practice - suong

The Philadelphia Eagles may be eyeing Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II as a potential trade target to strengthen their defensive backfield, according to league insiders. With Kelee Ringo battling veteran Adoree' Jackson for the CB2 spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell, and Cooper DeJean locked into the slot, the Eagles are reportedly exploring options to add depth and competition to their secondary.

Before entering the NFL, Newsome established himself as one of college football's premier defensive backs at Northwestern University. As a junior in 2020, he was named an All-American by The Athletic and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. Pro Football Focus ranked Newsome as the third-best cornerback prospect (20th overall) in the draft, highlighting his exceptional versatility in both man and zone coverage.

The Cleveland Browns selected Newsome in the first round (26th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team after finishing his rookie season with 37 combined tackles and nine pass deflections in 12 games. The 2021 first-round pick posted career highs in 2023 with 49 tackles, 14 passes defensed and two interceptions, including a memorable 34-yard pick-six against Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

However, the 2024 season proved challenging for Newsome. Head coach Kevin Stefanski demoted him to the third cornerback on the depth chart and named Martin Emerson his replacement, despite the Browns exercising Newsome’s fifth-year option worth $13.37 million guaranteed. The season ended prematurely when he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Newsome's versatility would be particularly valuable to the Eagles' secondary configuration. According to Pro Football Focus, he has played 1,428 snaps at outside cornerback and 1,163 snaps at slot cornerback, meaning he could seamlessly rotate between positions based on matchups. This flexibility would allow defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to move players around without significant drop-off in coverage quality, while providing immediate competition for the CB2 role between Ringo and Jackson.

The timing could be perfect for such an acquisition. The Eagles' joint practice session with the Browns on August 13 will come the week after Philadelphia’s preseason opener, providing an ideal evaluation opportunity. If Ringo hasn’t definitively won the starting job from Jackson by that point, the chances for a move like trading for Newsome would increase significantly.

Any potential trade would require the Eagles to absorb Newsome’s $13.3 million fully guaranteed contract for 2025, though Philadelphia has the cap space to accommodate such a move. At just 25 years old, Newsome still has significant upside and could benefit from a change of scenery after his reduced role in Cleveland. His college experience in multiple coverage schemes would translate well to Fangio’s defensive philosophy, which demands corners who can handle both man and zone responsibilities.

Whether such a trade materializes will depend on Cleveland’s asking price and Philadelphia’s assessment of their current roster needs, but Newsome’s combination of youth, experience, and proven ability makes him an intriguing option for an Eagles team looking to strengthen every aspect of their defense.