Ranking every Cleveland Browns first round draft pick since 1999

9. CB Greg Newsome, 2021 – 26th overall

I debated putting Greg Newsome and Jedrick Wills on this list, simply because they’ve had so few seasons in the NFL. So I fully respect and understand if you think he shouldn’t be on here at all, or at the very least, think he isn’t as deserving as such a high spot.

I have my own doubts about that, yet, here’s why I d put him where I did.

Firstly, Newsome played fantastically as a rookie on a defense that was lacking major playmakers and on a team that was constantly in the middle of one dramatic controversy or another. He was unphased by the nonsense the team and its management group caused.

Secondly, he played so well that at times he was the best corner on the field. There were some games where I thought Newsome out-performed Denzel Ward. Granted, not constantly and Ward had far more impressive outings than Newsome, but the fact that I’m saying that at all about Newsome shows you just how impressive I think his rookie season was.

Thirdly and most importantly, Newsome has no bad grades on his report card yet. It’s easy to look at Gerard Warren or Braylon Edwards and point out their issues as players. They played for eight and 10 years respectively, so it’s easy to find the negatives. Right now Newsome doesn’t have any, and that’s helping his ranking.

We’ll see where he ends up in a few years though. He may fall off completely, or become the best corner in team history. It’s up in the air.