CLEVELAND — Greg Newsome II had been told the Browns planned to pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract. The lack of suspense didn’t lessen the emotions he felt when the Browns did so last week.
“Oh, man, blessed,” Newsome said Monday at the third annual Northeast Ohio Girls High School Flag Football Championship Tournament at Cleveland Browns Stadium. “Just blessed that the organization sees so much in me. Just blessed that obviously that amount will be able to help me change my family’s future even more.
“So just super blessed, super excited that they want me here and that I want to be here. It’s a blessing.”
The option is for a guaranteed $13.377 million in 2025. Newsome, the No. 26 pick in 2021, has established himself as a starting-caliber cornerback who can play outside and in the slot.
He’s started 39 of 41 games with two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. He’s played at least 86 percent of the defensive snaps in all three seasons.
He started 13 of 14 games last season, setting career highs with 14 passes defensed, 49 tackles and four for loss. Both interceptions came last year as the Browns had the NFL’s No. 1-ranked pass defense (164.7 yards per game) and overall defense (270.2).
“Very happy with Greg,” general manager Andrew Berry said April 27 after the draft.
With the draft over and the busiest part of free agency in the rearview mirror, the chances of Newsome being traded have dropped significantly after persistent offseason rumors. Berry has said he’s not “looking to give away” a cornerback who excels in press-man coverage, and Newsome feels like the option has put the trade talk to rest.
“Yeah, definitely,” he said. “I really wasn’t paying attention too much. I mean, I talked to AB quite a bit in the offseason, my agent talks to him, so I knew that this should be coming soon.”
Newsome is eligible for a long-term contract and again reiterated his desire to stay.
“Extension-wise, we haven’t really talked about that,” he said. “Honestly, I’m just focused on trying to get us as high as we can this year and whatever happens after that happens. But like I said before, I would love to be a Cleveland Brown for life.”
Newsome, who’s from the Chicago area, has developed deep ties to the Northeast Ohio community. He’s a huge supporter of high school sports, including girls flag football, and is a regular at Cavaliers games.
“This is what it’s all about,” said Newsome, who predicted the Cavs would beat the Celtics in six games in the second round. “And just the ability to stay with one team. I feel like you’re able to impact so much more because you’ve been here for so long versus going team to team and trying to recreate something that you created somewhere else. So long term being somewhere is just unbelievable.”
Elyria Catholic and Lorain were among 26 teams to compete in the tournament. The Browns are working to elevate girls flag football to become a varsity sport sanctioned by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Newsome has watched the sport and tournament grow in participation and popularity.
“Just to see it now is unbelievable,” he said. “It means a lot for them. I think they love it so much.”
The NFL setting added to the magnitude of the event.
“It’s incredible,” Newsome said. “I think it gives them a sense of that we actually care and that people care about their talents and people care that they’re striving to become football players or whatever they want to do. So I think it’s great that we’re able to support something like this.”
