Greg Newsome proved his value in 2023 including ranking Top 10 in key category

Browns roster is stacked at cornerback with Newsome the best press corner

The NFL draft is in the books. NFL free agency is mostly done. The NFL schedule has been released. Now, fans look forward to more OTAs and then training camp on the long road to the season opener in September.

That means we return to breaking down rosters and expectations for the Cleveland Browns, the AFC North and this year’s slate of opponents.

The Browns roster is a loaded one going into the season including what is considered by many the best cornerback trio in the NFL. Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II and Martin Emerson Jr. give Cleveland the ability to play a lot of man coverage under DC Jim Schwartz.

Newsome in particular has been a big talking point this offseason. DBN discussed what the staff thought should happen with the cornerback this offseason, there were rumors that he could be traded at the draft but GM Andrew Berry kept his most recent first-round pick and picked up his fifth-year option.

In Schwartz’s system, having cornerbacks who can not only play man coverage but also disrupt receivers in press-man coverage is key. Newsome was graded as the sixth-best in the entire league in press:

Newsome has been a constant force for the Browns since he was drafted with the 26th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has earned a 68.0 grade or better in three straight seasons and was one of the best cornerbacks in press coverage last season. Across 148 such reps, Newsome was targeted at an 18.2% clip and allowed just 149 yards in coverage.

The Browns’ defense was one of the league’s best in 2023, and Newsome was a big reason why. His 33.3% forced incompletion rate tied for the best in this top 10, and he didn’t allow a touchdown in press coverage all season — one of only two players in the top 10 to do so.

According to PFF, Newsome is also Cleveland’s best overall coverage player, three spots ahead of Ward with both being in the Top 50 in the NFL.

Given his success in press, it will be interesting if Schwartz has Newsome in that position more in 2024. AJ Terrell had the most snaps in press-man coverage (388) of any of the players listed in PFF’s Top 10.

Are you surprised at how high Newsome ranks both in press and coverage overall?

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