NFL Teams Make Moves Ahead of Trade Deadline
With the trade deadline still a month away, NFL teams are getting proactive. Just this past Wednesday, a surprising exchange took place between the Browns and Jaguars, who dealt cornerbacks with potential implications for both teams.
The Jaguars, boasting the league’s top-ranked defense, sent cornerback Tyson Campbell along with a seventh-round pick to the Browns. In return, Cleveland offered up Greg Newsome and a sixth-round pick, as confirmed by the team.
This marks Cleveland’s second trade in two days; they had previously traded veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to the Bengals for a sixth-round pick the day before.
Campbell, currently in the second year of a lucrative four-year deal worth $76.5 million, means that Jacksonville is making a move that could ease future salary constraints. This could help the Jaguars better align with the strategies of defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile.
Both players are known for their skills—Campbell ranks as the 12th highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, earning an average of $19.1 million a year. On the other hand, Newsome, in the final year of his rookie contract and expected to receive a significant extension soon, is recognized as the No. 40 cornerback by Pro Football Focus, while Campbell is at No. 71.
Newsome expressed his fondness for Cleveland, reflecting on his time there before turning his attention to the Jaguars, exclaiming “DUUUUUVALLLL” in celebration of his new opportunity.
Previously part of a struggling team, Campbell now joins a Jaguars squad currently leading the AFC South. Recently, they experienced a setback against the Chiefs on “Monday Night Football,” highlighted by an interception return for a touchdown by Devin Lloyd.
This year has seen an uptick in trade activities across the league, with the Ravens recently acquiring defensive standout Odafe Oweh from the Chargers, along with a seventh-round pick, for a fifth-round pick and safety Arohi Gilman.
As for the Browns, fresh off a loss to the Vikings in London, they’re set to take on the Steelers in Week 6, while the Jaguars prepare for a matchup against the Seahawks on the road.
