One of the primary responsibilities of an NFL General Manager is to ensure that the team’s roster is in optimal condition heading into the season. For Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst, this meant prioritizing enhanced protection for quarterback Jordan Love by signing former San Francisco 49ers guard Aaron Banks, drafting Anthony Brown in the second round of the 2025 draft, and injecting fresh talent into the receiving corps with Matthew Golden, Savion Williams, and Mecole Hardman.
Gutekunst also improved the pass rush by drafting Barryn Sorrell, Collin Oliver, and Warren Brinson. Moreover, he signed former Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs in free agency. Still, the cornerback position is one of the weakest links on the team. Nevertheless, during mandatory minicamp, Gutekunst expressed strong confidence that his starting cornerbacks will step up and make a significant impact this season.
Still, Gutekunst is likely to stay alert to league-wide transactions. If the right opportunities come along, he could make one or two moves to add players who can help Green Bay win games. Given that the Packers have a weak spot at cornerback and the Browns may want to improve their receiving corps, both teams could potentially strike a deal in the future, as suggested by The Athletic’s Zac Jackson.
Cleveland Browns CB Greg Newsome II (0) and S Juan Thornhill (1) celebrate after a pass break up during the first half against the Baltimore Ravens.
© Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
“Not now, but months from now you can envision some sort of Greg Newsome for a GB receiver framework,” Jackson wrote.
Newsome was a first-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2021. He appeared in 12 games each season and started at least 11 games annually from 2021 through 2023. However, last season he started only 3 of 13 games and earned an overall Pro Football Focus grade of 52.2, ranking him 177th out of 223 qualifying cornerbacks.
The Browns picked up Newsome’s fifth-year option last year, locking him in for a $13.37 million salary in 2025. If the Packers were to trade for him, they would likely need to negotiate a long-term contract extension. Throughout his career, Newsome has alternated between playing outside cornerback and slot, offering the kind of flexibility Green Bay typically values in its defensive backs.
Newsome is coming off a down year in 2024, so it is tough to imagine Green Bay giving up draft capital and a receiver, then turning around and negotiating a new deal for a player who took a step back. Still, Jeff Hafley has a strong track record of developing defensive backs — and if anyone can help Newsome get back to form, it is the Packers’ defensive coordinator.
