Ranking and grading each Browns rookie from the 2021 NFL season

1. Greg Newsome Jr.  – No. 20

• Drafted: Round 1, Pick 26
• PFF Score: 68.1
• Stats: 12 games played, 11 started, 37 tackles, nine pass deflections
• Grade: A-

You really can’t argue that Greg Newsome was significantly impressive. The first-round pick out of Northwestern was coming into a team that had one healthy, reliable corner on the team. Sure, Greedy Williams came on strong in year three but that wasn’t expected. So there was a lot of pressure on Newsome. Not only that, but the Browns play in one of the toughest divisions for corners. Guys like Chase Claypool and Ja’Marr Chase were always issues and then you have to deal with Lamar Jackson’s mobility?

Corners are super tested in the AFC North.

That’s why Newsome having a respectable PFF score of 68.1 is pretty impressive. Rookie corners rarely do that well in year one and Newsome was taking on some of the best dudes in the league. Not only that, but Newsome only really didn’t play when he was hurt.

Newsome played just one game where he didn’t clock in with at least 90% of the snaps taken on defense, and that was against Arizona when he was coming back from an injury. He played in nearly 90% of all of the team’s defensive snaps he was available for for the season. That’s impressive.

He’s got room to grow but all in all, fans should be very happy with his performance.