The Minnesota Vikings begin the 2025 offseason with major problems in their secondary, particularly at cornerback. The Vikings want to look into trade options, and Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome could be a good fit.
Newsome was the No. 26 overall pick in the 2021 draft. He will count $13.4 million against the limit for the fifth year of a four-year, $12.7 million contract.
The Browns’ imminent salary cap worries may prompt a deal.
“The Cleveland Browns are a disaster with the salary cap, and only the New Orleans Saints are more in the red. On February 27, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report noted that “multiple difficult decisions need to be made.”
“That cap situation has led to young cornerback Greg Newsome II being mentioned in trade rumors.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66996375/1186328422.jpg.0.jpg)
Vikings get:
- Greg Newsome
Browns get:
- 2025 fifth-round pick (No. 140 via CLE)
Under this Heavy Sports trade proposal, the Browns would receive a Day 3 pick in exchange for Newsome.
This arrangement seeks to profit from Newsome’s unsuccessful 2024 season and the necessity for a new contract following a likely move. Davenport described the corner as an “underrated defensive star.”
The Vikings acquired the Browns’ pick in the trade that sent Za’Darius Smith to Cleveland in 2023.
“The team that acquires him could minimize the cap hit with an extension. “The Vikings have the cap space to pay the higher number and need cornerback help as badly as any team in the league,” Davenport wrote. “If Minnesota has any confidence Newsome can regain his 2023 form, his minimal cost in a deal is well worth the risk.”
Newsome set career lows of 27 total tackles and 5 pass deflections. He has also had durability difficulties throughout his career. Given how the Vikings fared this season, that could be a red flag in a deal.
Leave a Reply