As unlikely as it seems to happen, Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett has commanded most of the early talk when it comes to who the Detroit Lions could trade for this offseason, Beyond him on the Browns' roster, cornerback Denzel Ward invited questions about his own future if the team trades Garrett.
Trading Garrett and/or Ward, barring a contract restructure to facilitate the move, would also leave the Browns with a sizeable amount of dead money. So while those ideas should not be completely put to bed, the focus has to shift more realistic if the Lions end up doing business with the Browns like they did to get Za'Darius Smith at last year's trade deadline.
And there is a Browns' defensive player the Lions had rumored interest in nearly a year ago.
There's a Browns defensive player who could make lots of sense as trade target for the Lions
ESPN's Ben Solak predicted the Brown would trade Ward or fellow cornerback Greg Newsome this offseason. We've mentioned a primary issue with trading Ward, dead money/what's left on his contract, but Newsome is only tethered to his $13.37 million fifth-year option for 2025. The Browns can clear that full amount off their books by trading him.
So it's no surprise Newsome is No. 7 on Bleacher Report's post-Super Bowl LIX trade big board. It's also not incredibly surprising writer Kristopher Knox named the Lions as a potential suitor.
"The Lions could use a young cornerback of Newsome's caliber, especially with 2024 starter Carlton Davis scheduled to hit the market. Injuries played a role, but Detroit still finished this past season ranked 30th in passing yards allowed."
Newsome is coming off a down year where he allowed 9.6 yards per target and a 112.5 passer rating with a dismal 54.0 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus. Those numbers were markedly better in 2023 (6.7 yards per target allowed, 74.8 passer rating allowed, 69.9 coverage grade), and he was better than he was last year in 2021 and 2022 as well.
So is Newsome who he was last year, with trade rumors/a lack of a long-term future in Cleveland possibly impacting him? Or is he the first-round draft pick pedigreed corner who was quite good in each of his first three seasons? He's set to turn 25 in May, so you can bet some teams out there this offseason will be willing to bet on him getting back to the latter with a change of scenery.
The Lions being anywhere significant in the market for a veteran cornerback is contingent on Carlton Davis being gone in free agency. If they are in that spot, Newsome has the skill set and versatility to easily have a place on the list of possible pivots on the trade market.
