The Detroit Lions' injury concerns on the defensive end went from bad to worse. The secondary that has already been ravaged by injuries in recent weeks took a big hit in Week 5 when Terrion Arnold left the game early with an apparent shoulder injury. Dan Campbell revealed on Monday that Arnold will miss significant time.
This is a devastating development for the Lions, who already have their other starting cornerback, DJ Reed, on injured reserve. With Ennis Rakestraw Jr. suffering a season-ending injury before the 2205 campaign kicked off, this is now the third CB on the roster who will miss an extended period due to injury. It also creates a big hole in the defensive backfield that the Lions can only fill on the trade market.
With the trade deadline less than a month away, Lions GM Brad Holmes will likely make calls to fill their immediate need at corner. The Cleveland Browns, in the midst of a 1-4 start, would make for the perfect trade partner for the Lions.
Greg Newsome II May Be Perfect Lions' Trade Target
Despite being a complete mess for a second straight year, the Browns actually have a solid secondary, even with Martin Emerson suffering a season-ending injury over the summer. They are a top-ten unit in net yards gained per pass attempt and in Pro Football Focus' coverage grades. A big reason why is the play of Greg Newsome II.
The former first-round pick is playing most of his defensive snaps on the outside after Emerson's injury, after being more extensively used in the slot. So far, he has embraced the transition and is playing very well, grading as the best cornerback on the roster through five weeks.
Yet, the Browns are obviously not going anywhere, and Newsome is in the fifth and final year of his contract. Cleveland has shown no indication that it wants to sign him to a long-term extension. LionsWire's Jeff Risdon had reported in the 2024 offseason that Detroit had an interest in trading for Newsome at the time. A deal never materialized, and Newsome ended up staying in Cleveland. Considering it's the same decision-makers 1.5 years later in Detroit, it's safe to assume that there should be some interest in the 25-year-old.
Newsome may not have become the star cornerback many thought he would become in the NFL, but he still has a ton of physical and athletic upside. He is especially long at six-foot-one, and has a physical style that could be a good fit in Detroit.
If the Lions don't make a move right away, they will have to rely on Rock Ya-Sin and Tre Flowers on the outside. The need for a trade is obvious, and it's hard to think of too many better fits than Newsome.