The Athletic’s Zac Jackson previously speculated that Newsome could be traded, noting his $13.4 million cap hit as a reason for the team to move on. Cleveland can save the entirety of that figure by trading Newsome. The former first-round pick totaled five pass breakups across 13 games last year while playing a mix of slot and outside corner. Okoronkwo notched three sacks as a pass-rush specialist in 2024. Given the diminished roles both players hold in Cleveland, it wouldn’t take much for a team to acquire either defender.

Newsome II has a $13.3 million cap hit, but all of it goes away if the Browns can find a trade partner willing to take the former first-round pick on his fifth-year option. Newsome II was hampered by a hamstring injury last season and only played in 13 games before being placed on injured reserve in December. Given the Commanders’ need at the position and how flush with cap space they are, the pairing makes some sense. It’s likely that, given Cleveland’s cap problems, Newsome II will be available for any team wanting to make a bid on him.

He’s done for the season. Newsome finishes an uneven year where he was always hampered by this hamstring injury with a 54.0 PFF coverage grade. The Browns picked up his fifth-year option last offseason so he’ll enter the final year of his rookie contract in 2024 looking for a healthier rebound season.

With the Browns in a lost season, it would make sense to throw Newsome on injured reserve and end his season if this hamstring injury is at all serious. ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi said it was the same hammy that Newsome underwent surgery for in the summer. Those two data points together suggest that we could get an IR placement soon. Martin Emerson will have a bigger role in the defense if Newsome is sidelined.