The LA Chargers are a team to watch ahead of the 2024 trade deadline. With real playoff aspirations, general manager Joe Hortiz is going to do whatever he can to improve the roster and give Justin Herbert a better chance at winning his first career playoff game.
Many want to see the Chargers add wide receiver help at the trade deadline but that may not be the team's biggest need. With injuries starting to pile up, the Chargers may instead focus on adding cornerback help to maintain the level of play exhibited by Jesse Minter's defense.
Cleveland's Greg Newsome II, who the Chargers will get an up-close look at in Week 10, is one of the most intriguing options who could be on the market. The Browns are not in a position to contend for the playoffs and could part ways with Newsome for 2025 draft capital.
Newsome may be the enemy in Week 10 but he is already making fans in Los Angeles. The former first-round pick was extremely complimentary of Herbert ahead of Sunday's matchup.
#Browns CB Greg Newsome II says Chargers QB Justin Herbert has best arm talent they’ve seen this year. pic.twitter.com/fu1owOTR5H
— Scott Petrak ct (@ScottPetrak) October 30, 2024
Greg Newsome II sounds like someone who wants to play on the Chargers with Justin Herbert
Can we blame Newsome? It is hard to watch what Herbert does every week and not marvel over his capabilities. Cleveland has played some great quarterbacks this season as well, which makes these compliments all the more meaningful.
In a perfect world, Newsome can get an up-close look at Herbert as an opponent only to then get an up-close look at him every week as his starting quarterback. Newsome is a special talent who would fit right into what Minter is building on the defensive side of the ball and might be obtainable for a cheap cost.
What makes Newsome even more compelling as a trade target is the fact he has one more year under contract in 2025. Newsome would carry a $13.3 million cap hit in 2025 but that is more than manageable for a Chargers team that has a lot of financial flexibility.
Both Asante Samuel Jr. and Kristian Fulton are free agents after this season with no guarantee of either player returning. While there will be internal options who return such as Deane Leonard, Cam Hart, and Tarheeb Still, to name a few, the Chargers would benefit greatly from getting an above-average starter who can carry his impact over into next season.
Cleveland is already $3.6 million over next season's projected salary cap. Trading Newsome is a smart first step to freeing up cap space and would net the Browns more draft capital in the process.
The Browns have every reason to trade Newsome before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, and the Chargers have every reason to bring him in.