Browns Trade Pitch Nets Strong Draft Pick for $26 Million Defender
The Cleveland Browns aren’t in sell mode just yet, but a couple more losses and that could well be where the franchise ends up.
Cleveland takes on the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday, October 5. The contest is very much in question, as both offenses face major injury issues and quarterback questions, while both defenses are among the best units in the league and get after opposing passers particularly well.
One member of the Browns‘ vaunted defense who is uncertain for the contest is cornerback Greg Newsome II. He did not practice Wednesday and was a limited participant Thursday and Friday. Cleveland’s official injury report lists him as questionable for Sunday’s game.
The former first-round pick, who is playing in the fifth-year team option of his rookie contract, moved back outside following a campaign-ending Achilles tear Martin Emerson Jr. sustained during the preseason.
Newsome has been better against the run than the pass in 2025, but is still above-average at both when compared to his qualifying peers around the NFL through the first month of the year, per Pro Football Focus.
Given Newsome’s experience playing both inside and outside over, and considering the need that good teams around the league have for a second outside cornerback, he fits the bill as a prime trade candidate should things go off the rails for Cleveland over the next month.
One team in particular that could use Newsome is the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. And given the Eagles‘ situation, they are more incentivized to spend now — and even potentially overspend slightly — on a player who helps solidify their chances at a repeat title.
Browns Can Capitalize on Cornerback Need Around NFL
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The biggest question in NFL circles regarding Philadelphia’s need at cornerback is where they might be able to find one.
People keep bringing up trade options for the Eagles like, ‘Oh, they gotta go get a CB2 and finish this thing off,'” Brett Kollman said on “The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny” on Thursday, October 2. “And while yes, I agree, because they still do need like a second outside corner I should say, or I guess it would be a CB3 for them — what team is trading a starting corner right now?”
Cleveland might be the answer if the Browns can’t get past Minnesota this weekend. The Vikings defense is known for confusing opposing quarterbacks, particularly rookies, and Dillon Gabriel is making his first start after the Browns benched Joe Flacco.
The team has yet to put up 20 points this year and may need to play its best offensive game of the campaign to get a win over the Vikings. Should Cleveland lose, the Browns will drop to 1-4 with a road game next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1), currently the AFC North Division leaders and enjoying their bye this weekend.
Browns Could Turn Greg Newsome Into Fourth-Round Pick
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report on September 29 approximated Newsome’s current trade value at a conditional fourth-round pick.
Newsome has started all four games this season for a defense that is the one unit on which the Browns can hang their hat. However, having a fantastic defense means little when the offense and special teams are struggling as badly as Cleveland’s,” Knox wrote. The reality is the Browns need to find difference-makers for their offense. Moving Newsome, who is an impending 2026 free agent, might help them do that, albeit in the 2026 draft.”
Cleveland is already amid a rookie renaissance, with five 2025 picks currently starting after Gabriel’s promotion. The Browns have two first-round selections in 2026, and it makes sense to stock assets by moving a player who isn’t likely to return next spring anyway.
Newsome has earned a total of $26 million over his first five years in the league and will certainly be looking for a raise to his annual average salary next offseason.
Patriots’ K’Lavon Chaisson to Miss Week 5, Leaving Defensive Line Vulnerable
For the most part, Patriots players who have been dealing with injuries in the past week have been trending in the right direction. Milton Williams, the anchor of the vastly improved defensive line, has been nursing an ankle injury but the expectation is he will play. Cornerback Carlton Davis has an illness, but he, too, is expected to suit up Sunday night. Davis practiced despite the illness, while Williams was limited on Friday. Both are listed as questionable but are in Buffalo.
It’s a different story for pass-rusher K’Lavon Chaisson, who is in the midst of a breakout season here in his sixth year in the NFL. Chaisson is dealing with an undisclosed knee injury and will be out in Week 5, the team announced.
Linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who is coming off of the injured list with a calf injury that kept him out of the first four games of the season, is also listed as questionable, though he is expected to play.
It would be a blow to the Patriots in a game in which getting pressure on quarterback Josh Allen will be a key.
Chaisson is having his best year in the NFL, putting together a strong training camp and playing well through the first four games. He has shown some of the ability that once made him a first-round pick out of LSU, posting 2.5 sacks for a team that has shown more faith in him than he’d gotten in either of his past two stops, in Jacksonville and last year with the Raiders.
Patriots Lacking Depth in Pass Rush
Entering Week 4, Chaisson had played 75.9% of the Patriots‘ snaps. But in Week 4, the knee slowed him and he played just 49% of the team’s snaps against the Panthers. In his absence, demoted Patriots veterans Anfernee Jennings and Keion White will get more of a chance.
White and Jennings have struggled in reserve roles. White has a Pro Football Focus grade of 40.4, which rates 103rd out of 107 pass-rushers in the NFL. Jennings has a grade of 45.2.
K’Lavon Chaisson: Beware Bills Running Game
Chaisson did speak with reporters this week and said he’d be “excited to be out there,” if available. But alas, he won’t be. He did have advice for the Patriots, though: Beware the run game, where the Bills rank No. 1 in attempts (133) and yards (654).
That means both James Cook, who has 401 yards in four games and a league-high five touchdowns, and Allen, always a threat to run from the pocket (159 yards and three touchdowns rushing).
“Keep (Allen) contained, keep him under as much wraps as we can, but obviously he is one of the best players in the league for a reason,” Chaisson said. “Cook is a phenomenal running back himself and obviously when you have a quarterback who can move his legs as well that kinda adds to it. It’s something you can’t take for granted.
“That’s something we have emphasized heavy this week is the run game, obviously, Josh Allen is an MVP-caliber, too, so we never shy from it. But if you don’t stop the run, it’s going to be a long game for you, for sure.”
