Greg Newsome is finally showing exactly why the Jaguars traded for him

Some players need time to hit their stride after joining a new team. This is especially true when they are traded midseason. Such was the case of Greg Newsome. Just before the 2025 deadline, the Jacksonville Jaguars acquired him from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for Tyson Campbell.

And while Campbell made an impact right off the bat in Cleveland, Newsome had trouble finding his footing in Duval, and it wasn't until the Week 14 game against the Indianapolis Colts that he showed how much of a game-changer he can be.

Greg Newsome came through for the Jaguars in Week 14

The Jaguars dominated in all three phases in their 36-19 beatdown of the Colts at EverBank Stadium. The defense, in particular, generated three takeaways, and Greg Newsome was responsible for one.

This was the former Northwestern Wildcat's first pick with the Jags. On top of that, he posted a Pro Football Focus overall grade of 78.8, the fourth-highest among Jaguars defenders. Moreover, Newsome just allowed a 50 percent completion rate for 46 yards. This was, without a doubt, his best game wearing Teal.

Looking back, it's fair to assume that Newsome responded to getting a diminished role. Against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, he only got six snaps on defense. Michael DiRocco of ESPN noted at the time that it was a coaching decision. It looked like it paid off, as the 2021 first-round pick looks like a whole different player over the past three games.

In that span, Newsome has given up five receptions on 12 targets for 75 yards. Simply put, he's showcased how much of an impact he can have.

Newsome always showed potential with the Browns and even had preliminary contract talks. However, the Jags swooped in and traded for him because they believed he was a better fit in their scheme than Tyson Campbell, a talented corner who previously showed top-10 potential but got off to a slow start under the new regime.

Greg Newsome needs to keep making plays for the Jaguars

Greg Newsome rightly got plenty of flak in light of his rough start to his stint with the Jags (guilty as charged). However, he's quickly changing the narrative. He's getting the most out of the opportunities he's getting after hitting rock bottom, and that's worth recognizing.

If the fifth-year cornerback keeps playing the way he has, he could turn out to give the Jaguars a tough decision next offseason. When they traded for him, general manager James Gladstone rightly said that at the moment, the organization didn't rule out an extension, but it wasn't part of the equation after the trade. That's the right approach when you take into account that the organization didn't know how things would unfold.

But based on how Newsome has been playing, an extension should once again be a possibility. Of course, for Newsome to increase his odds of getting a new deal, he'll need to keep playing at a high level and prove that his outing against the Colts isn't an outlier but rather a sign of things to come.

Ultimately, Greg Newsome is proving that progress isn't linear, and players sometimes need time to find their footing. The Jaguars, for their part, should be thrilled that they're decision to trade for him is at last paying dividends.