The Jaguars have made a trade with the Browns to exchange a set of cornerbacks and draft picks, and it’s a move that the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator, Anthony Campanile, is feeling good about.
The Browns sent cornerback Greg Newsome II and a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Jaguars in exchange for cornerback Tyson Campbell and a 2026 seventh-round draft pick. Newsome has 23 tackles and three pass deflections through five games this season, and brings a skillset that general manager James Gladstone describes as “a strong fit for our defensive scheme.”
That is an opinion that resonates with Campanile as well, as the first-year defensive coordinator for first-year head coach Liam Coen had high praise for Newsome after the trade was made official.
“Yeah, just excited about Greg. I think he’s got multiple skillsets and has done a good job – watching him in the crossover tape, he’s shown he’s got a lot to offer. And over the years watching him, I think he’s got really good man-to-man skills. I think he’s done a good job in his own, competitive at the point of attack. So really excited about him. I think he will add a bunch to us,” Campanile said.
Newsome has recorded fewer tackles and fewer pass deflections this season than Campbell, who the Jaguars sent to Cleveland in exchange for their new corner, but boasts a higher Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade. Newsome has graded out this season with an overall defensive mark of 63.9 (67.6 run defense; 62.1 coverage), while Campbell has graded out with an overall defensive mark of 56.6 (87.7 run defense; 51.1 coverage). As one may expect from those coverage grades, Campbell has been targeted 39 times and allowed three touchdowns, while Newsome has been targeted 26 times and given up zero touchdowns.
“We always value that here, guys that are versatile, he can definitely do that. And like I said, just watching him in zone, watching him in man, he’s just competitive and has played well against some of the best players in this league. So that, that’s what excites us about him,” Campanile said.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Jaguars DC ‘really excited’ about new cornerback Greg Newsome
