New Jaguars Cornerback Greg Newsome II Reacts to Browns Trading Him

The Jacksonville Jaguars, one of the league’s hottest teams, swung a trade this week with the Cleveland Browns.

Greg Newsome II of the Cleveland Browns looks on during a game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, La., on Nov. 17, 2024. Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Greg Newsome II joined one of the hottest teams in the NFL on Wednesday via a trade between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars.

A former Browns cornerback, Newsome will take his talents to Duval County in Florida, where he can help the Jaguars build on a 4–1 start to the season.

“Love Cleveland, it’s been real,” Newsome wrote on X.

Newsome also gave a shout-out to Jaguars fans, writing “DUUUUUVALLLLL“ on X. A former No. 26 pick by the Browns in 2021, he had only one year left on his rookie deal with the team. The Browns acquired former Jaguars cornerback Tyson Campbell and a 2026 seventh-round pick.

Cleveland has a 1–4 start to the season, and the Browns have made two trades this week. The Browns first traded quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals this week.

“We are trying to win football games now, and Greg helps us do that, as his skillset is a strong fit for our defensive scheme, which puts more vision on the quarterback and will lean on Greg’s ability to find the football,” Jaguars General Manager James Gladstone said via the team’s website. “We will continue to be aggressive, to make us the best possible team this season.”

A former Northwestern standout, Newsome has 178 tackles, 37 pass deflections, three interceptions, two quarterback hits, and a sack in 59 career games. He earned All-Rookie team honors in 2021, and he had 47 career starts with the Browns.

Campbell, a former Georgia standout, joined the Jaguars as a second-round pick in 2021. He tallied 297 tackles, 42 pass deflections, six interceptions, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries in 60 career games.

Jacksonville had to pay big for Campbell, amid a four-year, $76.5 million deal. Newsome, meanwhile, had a four-year, $12.74 million deal with the Browns. This allows the Jaguars to gain salary cap space, and it opens doors for roster moves after the season.

It marked the second big trade between the two teams this year, after the first in April ahead of the draft. The Jaguars acquired the No. 2 pick from Cleveland for the No. 5 pick and a first-round pick in 2026.

Jacksonville drafted two-way star Travis Hunter, who plays both defensive back and wide receiver. The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner has 16 receptions for 182 yards for the Jaguars this season.

“He was a brother,” Hunter said of Campbell during Thursday’s practice. “You know, he was a brother here. You know, I could talk to him, ask him whatever I needed to ... just bless him. I hope he takes the mindset of it’s just another step.”

Jacksonville will now look to keep winning after a big win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday. The Jaguars’ defense notably rose to the occasion when linebacker Devin Lloyd picked off quarterback Patrick Mahomes and returned it for a touchdown.

“We know what we got, we got here,” Hunter said. “You know, we just got to continue to play Jaguars football, continue to play physical and just go out there and take it one play at a time, man, continue to just do our job.”

The Jaguars host the Seattle Seahawks (3–2) on Sunday, and Jacksonville can start 5–1 for the first time since 1999 when the team reached the AFC Championship Game. But Hunter won’t be one to start talking about that possibility, nor his coaches and teammates.

“Because it’s a long season,” Hunter said. “You know, we can start 4–1, and you just got to continue to take that mindset. Just going 1–0 ... each week. You know, that’s our record right now, but we’re really 0–0 right now. You know, we got to go 1–0 this Sunday, and continue to go 1–0.”