ESPN analyst Matt Bowen picked the Green Bay Packers as the "best fit" for free agent cornerback Greg Newsome in his annual review of the site's top 50 free agents entering the 2026 offseason. Bowen also found fits outside of Green Bay for four of the team's top free agents: Rasheed Walker, Quay Walker, Malik Willis and Romeo Doubs.
Seeing a need at cornerback, Bowen connected the Packers with Newsome, a first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2021 who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in a player-for-player swap ahead of the trade deadline last year.
From Bowen: "The Packers' cornerbacks struggled after Micah Parsons' injury limited the pass rush, and new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will install a zone-heavy scheme. That's a fit for Newsome, who uses his backfield vision in coverage. Re-signing with the Jaguars is also an option."
Newsome checks a lot of boxes as a potential Packers target. He plays a premium position of need, is coming off a rookie contract and is still young (25). He also visited the Packers before the 2021 draft, so the team has a full profile on him as a player and person. It's possible the team sees Newsome as an ideal fit as a perimeter corner in Jonathan Gannon's defense, as Bowen suggests.
However, Newsome has struggled as a coverage player over the last two seasons, allowing nine touchdown passes with only two interceptions since 2024. He's also allowed a completion percentage over 67.0 and a passer rating over 100.0 in back-to-back seasons, while also missing 23 tackles and defending 14 passes. The coverage numbers were much better during his first three seasons in Cleveland, but Newsome has never been a plus run defender or tackler.
The Browns often moved Newsome inside to the slot, but he appears to be more comfortable and a better defender on the perimeter. Over five NFL seasons, Newsome has played over 1,000 snaps in the slot and 2,000 more outside. That versatility is a plus, and the Packers would likely want him to play outside with Javon Bullard established as a plus slot defender.
Newsome's contract, which was extended on the fifth-year option, will expire in March, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Jaguars are in a better salary cap position than the Packers, so getting Newsome out of Jacksonville will be difficult if the Jaguars are interested in re-signing a player they traded for in October.
Bowen also had "best fits" for four of the Packers' top free agents:
- Rasheed Walker: Cleveland Browns
- Quay Walker: Washington Commanders
- Malik Willis: Miami Dolphins
- Romeo Doubs: Las Vegas Raiders
Rasheed Walker is ESPN's top rated free agent along the offensive line...Bowen sees Quay Walker as a natural replacement for Bobby Wagner in Washington...Willis is an easy fit for the Dolphins, who have Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan in leadership roles and a need at quarterback...Doubs could provide a reliable target for assumed No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza in Vegas.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers picked as 'best fit' for free agent cornerback Greg Newsome II