Anew name has emerged as a possibility at cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings.
With the Cleveland Browns believed to be open to moving him, Greg Newsome II could be a trade target, especially if Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo‑Mensah draws on his previous Cleveland connections.
Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports thinks the Vikings should contact the Browns about a possible trade.
“Minnesota spent big to address both trenches this offseason, but the one non-quarterback spot that lacks top-end answers is the secondary, now sans veteran starters like Stephon Gilmore and Camryn Bynum,” Benjamin wrote on June 26.
“Forward-thinking general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was in the Browns’ front office when Cleveland spent a first-rounder on Newsome in 2021, and at just 25, the former Northwestern standout has the upside to become a longer-term option for Brian Flores’ defense. Why would the Browns give up such a young chess piece? Despite his draft reputation, Newsome managed just three starts in Jim Schwartz’s unit in 2024, and he’s headed into a contract year.”
More on the Idea of the Minnesota Vikings Trading for CB Greg Newsome II
The Vikings’ CBs room is an interesting group, to be sure. Byron Murphy is firmly entrenched as the team’s No. 1 corner, but beyond him, the depth chart is filled with question marks.
New addition Isaiah Rodgers, who spent his 2024 campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles, is an intriguing player who could wind up surprising a ton of folks. There’s also Mekhi Blackmon, a 2023 third-round pick, who is still working his way back from an ACL tear.
Jeff Okudah and Fabian Moreau are depth pieces, but neither offer the long-term upside or consistent CB2 potential that a contender like Minnesota needs.
Newsome could immediately fill that void. He can play both outside and slot corner in press-man and zone-heavy defenses, making him a good fit for Brian Flores.
Newsome’s ability to mirror receivers and disrupt passing windows would be particularly valuable in the NFC North, where the Vikings face top wideouts like Amon-Ra St. Brown and DJ Moore twice a year.
A Look Back at Newsome’s Career Thus Far
Newsome entered the NFL as a first-round pick (26th overall) by the Browns in 2021 after a standout college career at Northwestern.
Despite missing snap time due to injuries in his rookie training camp, Newsome quickly secured a starting role. In his 12 games and 11 starts in 2021, he recorded 37 total tackles and nine pass breakups.
Over the next two seasons, he showed steady development. In 2022, he notched 42 tackles, six pass defenses and 0.5 sacks. His 2023 campaign was arguably his best, as he finished with career highs in tackles (49), passes defended (14) and interceptions (2, one returned for a pick-6).
His 2024 campaign was a challenging one, though. After the Browns picked up his fifth-year option, Newsome suffered hamstring injuries that sidelined him and led to reduced playing time—only 13 games and 3 starts. He finished with 27 tackles, five pass breakups and an interception.
From a financial perspective, a trade for Newsome could be a realistic move for both sides. Newsome has a $13.4 million cap hit for 2025, which Minnesota can swing.
The Vikes have enough cap space ($23.5 million) to absorb the hit, and the cost-controlled nature of Newsome’s deal makes him an attractive plug-and-play solution at CB. For a team that still sees itself in the playoff mix but needs more stability at cornerback, Newsome could be the right move at the right time.
