The Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns are swapping starting cornerbacks.
The Jaguars are sending cornerback Tyson Campbell and a 2026 seventh-round NFL Draft pick to the Browns in exchange for cornerback Greg Newsome II and a 2026 sixth-round selection, a team source confirmed to The Athletic.
Both players were members of the 2021 draft class. Newsome was selected by the Browns with the 26th pick, and Campbell a few spots later at No. 33 by the Jaguars.
Campbell has been a starter for Jacksonville since his rookie year and has tallied six interceptions and three forced fumbles during his career.
Newsome also quickly became a starter in Cleveland and has logged three interceptions throughout his career.
Why the Browns made this move
Everything the Browns do must be viewed through the prism of the failed Deshaun Watson trade. The Browns are playing for the future and already own Jacksonville’s 2026 first-round pick. With just 36 players under contract for 2026 at the start of this week, the Browns have to carefully make decisions about their future and obviously didn’t think Newsome fit it.
Cleveland takes on no dead money in trading Newsome because he was playing on his fifth-year option, and Campbell is signed for four more seasons. Lots of important and expensive decisions lie ahead, but this surprising trade feels like further confirmation that the Browns and general manager Andrew Berry are looking to the future. Will Berry still be around to make the next round of big calls? Let’s see how the rest of this season goes. — Zac Jackson, Browns beat writer
What are the Jags getting in Newsome?
Newsome is having arguably his best season. He seems more comfortable as a full-time outside cornerback, and he’s certainly motivated in his contract year. He didn’t have a training camp in 2024 because of a hamstring injury, and he’s been a more confident player this season.
He has been consistently targeted by opponents, but the Jaguars clearly see him as an upgrade. The Browns saw good and bad from Newsome over five seasons but didn’t see him in their future plans. — Jackson
Campbell should stick around
For the Browns, cornerback went from a position of strength entering 2024 to another large question mark approaching the midpoint of 2025. Martin Emerson Jr. is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon and doesn’t have a contract for next year. Myles Harden is solely a slot cornerback and has been frequently targeted by opposing offenses.
Campbell becomes an immediate starter for the Browns, but is he an upgrade? And can he play this weekend? If he can’t, undrafted rookie Dom Jones likely will start at outside cornerback. Jones is one of 14 rookies on the roster for the Browns. Campbell is signed through 2028. Tuesday, the Browns traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals. — Jackson