Could Browns Shop One Of Their Top Cornerbacks This Offseason?
The NFL rumor mill is heating up after the conclusion of the NFL Combine.
As Browns GM Andrew Berry said at the annual event last week, "the only constant in the NFL is change, realistically, whether you’re successful or unsuccessful."
Coming off a successful 2023 campaign that saw the franchise make the playoffs for the second time in four seasons there's not much room for being sentimental this time of year. Berry is tasked with trying to assemble a championship caliber roster for 2024. A process that may include moving on from players who played a key role in the team's truly memorable season.
According to Audacy NFL Insider Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post, the Browns have informed opposing general managers that they are open for business when it comes to potentially dealing one of their top cornerbacks.
La Canfora doesn't specify in the bullet pointed additional notes from his column, which of the team's top corners could be moved. With that said, it's unlikely the team would move on from Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward right now, given the current state of his contract.
Trading Ward either right now or after June 1 would leave the Browns eating a $40-plus million dead cap hit over the next two years. Just last week, Cleveland restructured Ward's contract to free up $11 million in cap space to provide the team sine financial flexibility for the start of the new league year next week.
Meanwhile, 2022 third-round pick Martin Emerson Jr. has developed into a very reliable young cornerback for the Browns in his own right. Entering year three on his rookie deal, it's fair to reason Cleveland views him as part of their long-term plans, potentially as Ward reaches the later years of his deal.
That leaves Greg Newsome II, who has become a staple of the secondary in the nickle CB spot over the last few years – a role he wasn't initially on board with. Last offseason Newsome answered "no" to a social media question about if he wanted to play the nickle spot again in 2023. Ultimately, Newsome wound up embracing the role in what became the No. 1 defense in football this past season and was a leading voice in the locker room to boot.
As the 2021 first-round pick heads into the fourth year of his rookie deal the Browns have to decide by May 2 if they want to pick up the fifth year option available in his contract. That could also make him more inciting on the trade market with two more years of control available to any team that acquired his services.
With Cleveland juggling an expensive roster as is, it's unclear whether or not they see Newsome II as a candidate for an etension. It's a situation that could start to come to light when free agency opens up officially at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
