Greg Newsome's best year in three with the Browns resulted in the club picking up his fifth-year option in 2025 for a guaranteed $13.37 million. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns tidbits …
Browns GM Andrew Berry and coach Kevin Stefanski have professed their love for cornerback Greg Newsome whenever asked all offseason. On Tuesday, the Browns backed up their words by picking up Newsome’s fifth-year option.
It’s a big deal for Newsome.
The maneuver, which had a deadline of Thursday, guarantees Newsome a salary of $13.377 million in 2025. He’s scheduled to make about $2.4 million in 2024.
The $13.377 million fifth-year option surpasses the $12.748 million Newsome made in the first four seasons combined of his rookie contract. It’s a big number for a third cornerback. But the Browns attach high value to the third cornerback because he’s on the field enough to be considered a starter.
Newsome did make two starts because of injuries to Denzel Ward last year and was second on the team among cornerbacks with 774 defensive snaps (72.9 percent). Martin Emerson was first with 863 snaps (81.3 percent) and Ward was third with 633 (58.6 percent).
In fact, Newsome was third overall in snaps among all defensive players behind Myles Garrett (812, 76.5 percent) and Emerson.
In the first season under coordinator Jim Schwartz, Newsome played primarily as the nickel back guarding slot receivers. He had the first two interceptions of his career, including a Pick 6 in the fourth quarter of the Browns’ 33-31 victory in Baltimore in Game 9. It was one of the biggest defensive plays of the season.
By having his fifth-year option picked up, Newsome moved a step closer to receiving a second, multi-year contract from the Browns. It would serve to reduce Newsome’s salary cap figure in 2025 and assure their commitment to him as a foundation player on defense.
Newsome turns 24 next month. He was the 26th overall pick in the 2021 draft.
Newsome is the third player whose fifth-year option was picked up in the five years Berry has been GM. The others were tight end David Njoku and left tackle Jedrick Wills.
A new center
The Browns continued to bolster their depth at offensive line with another veteran addition.
They agreed to terms with center Brian Allen, 28, who started 20 of 21 games when the Rams won the Super Bowl following the 2021 season.
That career year earned Allen a three-year extension from the Rams. But injuries limited him to five games in 2022 and five in 2023. He was released by the Rams in February.
Allen is the fourth veteran offensive lineman signed by the Browns since last season. They re-signed swingman Michael Dunn and then added free agents Hakeem Adeniji, a tackle, and Germain Ifedi, a guard with tackle experience. The Browns also selected Michigan guard Zak Zinter in the third round of the draft last weekend.
The Browns currently have 18 offensive linemen on their roster.
Numbers, please
Jersey numbers of some of the new Browns …
3 – wide receiver Jerry Jeudy
5 – quarterback Jameis Winston
10 – quarterback Tyler Huntley
22 – running back/returner Nyheim Hines
27 – running back D’Onta Foreman
28 – cornerback Justin Hardee
30 – linebacker Devin Bush
36 – kicker Cade York
38 – cornerback Tony Brown
39 – kicker Lucas Havrisik
44 – tight end/fullback Giovanni Ricci
58 – linebacker Jordan Hicks
65 – offensive lineman Germain Ifedi
72 – defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson
74 – offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji