Five cornerbacks the Detroit Lions might consider trading for as a replacement for Cameron Sutton.
Greg Newsome from the Cleveland Browns
Before the commencement of free agency, there was speculation, supported by a report from the Washington Post, that the Browns were open to trading one of their top three cornerbacks. Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire indicated that the Lions expressed interest. With a looming decision on his fifth-year option by May 2, Newsome appears to be a more feasible trade option compared to Denzel Ward or Martin Emerson if Cleveland decides to part with a cornerback.
Newsome has showcased periods of high-quality play in his career thus far, albeit interspersed with inconsistency. He exudes confidence and swagger, although at times, he fails to consistently back it up on the field. Nevertheless, such fluctuations are commonplace for cornerbacks, who rely on short memories and a fearless approach. While the Lions have already added some swagger at cornerback with Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson, there’s always room for more if they can complement it with solid performance.
Throughout his three NFL seasons, Newsome has maintained a passer rating allowed below 86.0. He has demonstrated versatility by playing both outside and in the slot over the past two seasons, in addition to logging a significant number of snaps as a box player. Although he struggled with missed tackles last season, Newsome remains an active participant against the run and managed 14 pass breakups last year.
Originally, Risdon proposed a trade scenario for the Lions to acquire Newsome, albeit before they traded for Davis, which involved offering the No. 73 pick in this year’s draft along with a fourth-round pick in 2025.
Considering that the Lions have already relinquished their other third-round pick in the deal for Davis, trading away the No. 73 pick now seems highly improbable. However, if the Browns were open to receiving picks beyond this year, perhaps in 2025 and 2026 as per Risdon’s suggestion, it could pave the way for a potential trade to bring Newsome to Detroit.