2021 NFL Draft: What does selection of Greg Newsome mean for others in Cleveland Browns secondary
Fans of the Cleveland Browns had to stay up a bit later than usual to see their team make their first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Cleveland Browns selected Greg Newsome, a dynamic cornerback out of Northwestern, with the 26th overall pick in the NFL Draft. Adding a young cornerback to aid Denzel Ward on the outside, is something everyone in the Dawg Pound should be excited for. But what does the Newsome pick mean for the rest of the secondary in 2021 and beyond?
Cleveland made it a priority to upgrade their defense this offseason, after that was their Achilles heel in 2020. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods has many more toys to play with, with the Browns signing safety John Johnson III and cornerback Troy Hill. Add to that list 2020 second-round pick Grant Delpit, who missed the entire 2020 season with injury, and the Browns secondary is looking like a force to be reckoned with.
Drafting Newsome provides Cleveland one more player to help bolster the defense on the back end. It also allows them to potentially move on from a former draft pick that has yet to see an NFL snap due to lingering injuries in Greedy Williams.
Williams has mostly missed time due to nerve injuries in his shoulder, and the addition of Newsome allows Browns general manager Andrew Berry to move on from the 2019 second round pick. The remainder of the Browns secondary will likely not be impacted too greatly by this selection, other than likely being part of a rotation in certain situations.
Overall, the addition of Greg Newsome just provide another quality starter to the defensive unit for the Cleveland Browns. If the Browns sign Denzel Ward to an extension, they will have a formidable one-two punch at cornerback for the next five years.
The Browns Super Bowl window is right now, and the selection of Newsome with the 26th pick is a good one for the entire Browns organization, as it helps extend that window by an extra year or two.
Next. Browns add another CB with injury issues in Greg Newsome. dark
Browns fans can expect him to step in and be the player that Greedy Williams was meant to be helping Denzel Ward in the secondary and taking the team to the new goals they have in 2021 and beyond.