Cleveland Browns pick up 5th-year option on cornerback Greg Newsome II

BEREA — The only question really was about when it was going to be done. Now, even that question has an answer.

The Browns picked up the fifth-year option on cornerback Greg Newsome II on Tuesday, a source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. The team had until 4 p.m. Thursday to do so or he would've been eligible for free agency after the upcoming season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter was the first to report.

Under the option guidelines set, Newsome will play the 2025 season at a fully guaranteed base salary of $13.37 million. That number was set due to Newsome reaching tier-three criteria: a player takes 75% of the team’s offensive or defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, or 50% of the snaps played in each of the three seasons, or a 75% average over all three seasons.

Now the question becomes if/when the Browns extend a long-term extension offer to him. Newsome, when he spoke on April 16, didn't know of extension talks with the Browns, while general manager Andrew Berry has repeated avoided answering the question.

“Very happy with Greg," Berry said at the conclusion of the draft last Saturday. "Want as many man corners as we can have, and we’ll let you guys know when at the appropriate time.”

Newsome acknowledges he would like to sign an extension with the Browns.

"That's the goal," Newsome said on April 16. "I told you from Day One, I want to be one of those guys that sticks around one place their whole career. So if God be willing, I'll be here for a long time."

Newsome has played at least 86% of the Browns' defensive snaps in each of his first three seasons since being taken No. 26 overall in the first round of the 2021 draft out of Northwestern University. He's played in 41 career regular-season games, as well as one playoff game, with 40 total starts.

The 23-year-old is one of three talented cornerbacks the Browns have on the roster, along with three-time Pro Bowler Denzel Ward and third-year pro Martin Emerson Jr. The emergence of Emerson since being drafted in the third round in 2022 has altered a lot of the conversation about Newsome.

"I want as many good corners as possible," Berry said April 18. "We have, going back to my point about the league playing in 11 personnel, I always — your base offense and defense is really more three receivers and three corners in this day and age. So that's really how we think about it. Even though we are technically a 4-3, how many snaps will you realistically see us play in base? Not very many over the course of the season, so corner is a premium position.

"We have three guys who can play press man coverage at a very, very, very high level. That's not a skillset that I'm looking to give away."

On the field, Newsome has found himself playing in the slot significantly more than he did as a rookie before Emerson was drafted. That seemed to be a point of contention for him coming out of the 2022 season, although the hiring of Jim Schwartz to replace Joe Woods that offseason changed that viewpoint.

Under Woods, Newsome felt like he was almost being asked to play a linebacker position in some sub-packages. Schwartz's scheme has been much more in line with what he expects, which allowed him to have his best statistical season with his first two career interceptions.

"I mean, I feel good," Newsome said. "Whatever I can do to help the team win, I'll do. I was able to do a lot of things — blitz, I was able to cover a lot more in man to man. So I think I had a great role last year, and I'm just ready to keep getting better at it."

Newsome's name first came up in trade rumors last offseason. He publicly shot down a report he had personally requested a trade because of his frustration over his role.

His name has come up a couple of times this offseason as well. Although Berry has denied he's looking to deal Newsome, the player isn't getting caught up in the talk.

"I don't pay attention, but obviously my family and stuff tell me and ask me," Newsome said. "What goes through my head is nothing. I feel like I'm comfortable here. I feel like AB and the ownership and all my coaches know what I'm capable of, they know what I bring to this team, not just on the field, being one of those glue guys, being a guy that's always energetic, celebrating no matter what, I feel like they know my value. So I wasn't too worried about that."

The Browns have picked up the fifth-year option of each of their two first-round picks since Berry became general manager in 2020. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., the No. 10 overall pick in 2020, will play this season on the option, although he restructured the deal so he'll earn a base salary of $1,125,000 and a restructure bonus of $13,050,000, while carrying a cap hit of $4,192,352.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns pick up 5th-year option on cornerback Greg Newsome II