Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku revealed during Super Bowl week he was "going to talk to" teammate Myles Garrett after the All-Pro pass-rusher went public with his trade request.
During a recent chat with Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II confirmed he'll also try to talk Garrett into giving Cleveland at least one more season.
"Oh for sure," Newsome explained. "I’d definitely try to talk him down, sit down and talk to him. He’s like a brother to me. Just get some information on what’s he thinking, why he’s thinking this and try to talk him down, because it will be very tough losing him."
Garrett wants to join a Super Bowl contender coming off Cleveland's 3-14 season, but messages from the Browns delivered throughout February have indicated he won't get his desired trade anytime soon. As recently as Wednesday, ESPN's Dan Graziano pointed out that the Browns can't realistically trade Garrett until after June 1 for reasons related to the salary cap.
Some have wondered if players such as Newsome would welcome Garrett back into the locker room after he made it clear earlier he thinks the Browns aren't close to contending for a title. It sounds like Newsome understands why Garrett is asking for a trade at this stage of his career.
"He obviously expects a lot from this organization," Newsome said. "He expects a lot from his teammates and we don’t feel no type of way because we understand he has been one of the core guys that we’ve been with and I just hope the best for him. I know how he’s a little bit later in his career than I am, so I know he’s had a lot of maturing, a lot of losing, a lot of winning in this organization, so whatever happens for him, I just wish the best for him."
Similar to fellow Cleveland cornerback Denzel Ward, Newsome thinks the 2025 Browns could compete for at least a playoff berth "if we solidify the quarterback" position this offseason. Stories have linked the Browns with Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers. Along with signing one of those veterans, Cleveland could spend the second pick of this year's draft on either Miami's Cam Ward or Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.
"You’ve seen it now for the last two years with (Houston Texans starting quarterback) C.J. Stroud and now (Washington Commanders 2024 first-round draft pick) Jayden Daniels," Newsome added. "I feel like it’s just putting all of your trust into somebody and just knowing that you’ve got a guy back there that’s stable, that we know is going to be there, and you can rally around something like that. ...If we can find one correct guy, I think we can get to where we need to get to."
Assuming Graziano and others are correct, it seems Newsome will have some time to try to convince Garrett that the Browns will be ready to do more than win just a handful of games by September.
