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Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II has been attached to the Minnesota Vikings rumor mill for about five months.
The Vikings have again been linked to a highly coveted cornerback target, fueling speculation about potential moves before the 2025 season or next year.
Once a trade candidate around the league, Newsome II may not be available any longer due to injuries to Cleveland’s secondary.
But that shouldn’t prevent Minnesota from chasing Newsome II next year, according to Bleacher Report.
BR Says Greg Newsome II for Vikings in 2026
The upcoming season is the final of Newsome II’s rookie contract.
 gets away from cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during NFL training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_26757536.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=707,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_26757536.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/USATSI_26757536.jpg” alt=”Browns receiver Jamari Thrash evades Greg Newsome II during 2025 training camp.”><figcaption>Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) eludes cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during NFL training camp on August 1, 2025, at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea, Ohio. The session featured competitive drills between receivers and defensive backs in preparation for the upcoming NFL season. © Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<h3>Bleacher Report Recommends Greg Newsome II for Vikings in 2026</h3>
<p>BR’s Alex Ballentine identified a free-agent-to-be for each NFL team to target next offseason, and for the Vikings, Newsome II stood off the page.</p>
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He wrote, The Vikings are going to hope Mekhi Blackmon has a great bounce-back season after a serious knee injury last season. He had a strong rookie campaign in 2023. But they’re also hoping to get something out of Jeff Okudah and/or Isaiah Rodgers. Okudah is playing on a one-year deal and Rodgers only has a two-year contract.”
“There’s not a lot of reason the Vikings wouldn’t be on the market for a corner again if Okudah doesn’t pan out. If that’s the case, then Greg Newsome II would be a logical target. He’s used to playing coverage in an aggressive scheme in Cleveland and he has inside-out versatility.”
And truth be told, Newsome II to Minnesota would make sense because the team’s general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, worked in the Browns’ front office when Cleveland drafted him four years ago. There’s an executive-player connection.
A Trade All but Dead?
Before the BR article, Newsome II commonly inhabited Minnesota’s trade rumor mill. The Browns’ finances are shaky, mainly due to Deshaun Watson’s sketchy contract, and players like Newsome II may not be part of Cleveland’s long-term plans.
However, late last month, Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. tore his Achilles and will miss the entire 2025 season. Trading Newsome II, at least to the naked eye, is no longer on the table. So if Minnesota wanted Newsome II — it’s just a theory right now — it may have to wait until March 2026.
Vikings’ CB Group This Season
Of course, Minnesota can just ask new corners Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah to ball out, negating the need for Newsome II or anyone else. Adofo-Mensah onboarded those men as his 2025 CB solutions, and to date at training camp and in the preseason, the results seem decent.
Ivan Pace Jr. to an extension.
“Brian Flores has built a front seven in Minnesota that is hell for opposing offenses. The Vikings have done a good job of identifying and developing talent that fits what they like to do and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is the embodiment of that. He was added as an undrafted free agent,” Ballentine remarked.
 celebrates after scoring a touchdown from a fumble recovery against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_24543579.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_24543579.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/USATSI_24543579.jpg” alt=”Ivan Pace Jr. celebrates fumble recovery touchdown vs. Lions in 2024.”><figcaption>Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) celebrates after scoring a touchdown on a fumble recovery against the Detroit Lions on October 20, 2024, during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The defensive score capped a dominant performance by the Minnesota defense in their divisional matchup. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p>“He plays with the exact kind of edge you’d expect from someone who had to earn a role as a UDFA. He carried the third-highest pass-rush grade from any linebacker, according to PFF, last season. He was also top 15 against the run. He’ll only be a restricted free agent next offseason, but Minnesota would be wise to lock him into a longer deal.”</p>
<p>Pace Jr. extension talks should heat up next spring. </p>
<h3>Lions, Bears Recommendations</h3>
<p>Ballentine also claimed that the Detroit Lions, a Vikings rival, should pursue EDGE rusher Kwity Pate next offseason.</p>
<p>He explained, “Aidan Hutchinson gives the Lions a star pass-rusher when healthy. But the pass rush looked much more human when he was forced to miss 12 games last season with a knee injury. He still led the team with 7.5 sacks in the five games he played.”</p>
<p>“If Detroit doesn’t have a secondary edge-rusher emerge opposite Hutchinson this season, they could be looking to the free-agent market. There aren’t a ton of productive options that don’t just fit the one-year mercenary role. Kwity Paye is one of the exceptions. The Colt has 26.5 sacks through four seasons and is only 26 years old.”</p>
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worst salary cap predicament entering the 2026 offseason, underwater by approximately $66 million. They might be bargain-bin shopping next March.