Tag: Greg Newsome II

New mock draft has Bears finding Kyle Fuller’s replacement in first round

In Daniel Jeremiah’s new mock draft, he has the Bears taking Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II to replace the departed Kyle Fuller.

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The Chicago Bears have no shortage of needs heading into the 2021 NFL draft — from cornerback to wide receiver to offensive tackle to quarterback. And with a first-round pick for the first time in three years, the Bears are poised to address one of those needs in a big way immediately.

In Daniel Jeremiah’s new mock draft, he has Chicago drafting Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome with the 20th overall pick. Jeremiah dubbed him a “plug-and-play guy” who would be a good replacement for Kyle Fuller.

Here’s what The Draft Network had to say about Newsome:

Newsome II has showcased strong ball skills and length to pair with high-end levels of flexibility and functional athleticism—that’s a blend that is going to get Newsome II drafted sooner rather than later.

Newsome II is instinctual and offers suddenness in split decisions in coverage; frequently driving to the target and attacking the football in the air. He brings the right kind of attitude to perimeter play both in collision routes and in run support and tackling at the line of scrimmage, but his aggressive angles will need a little work to ensure he’s secured tackles at the catch point before attempting to attack the football and undercut throws.

The concern with Newsome II is his durability, as he didn’t play a full season of college football. Newsome II missed nine games with an ankle injury as a freshman, four games with an undisclosed injury as a sophomore and sustained a groin injury in the Big 10 championship last season.

But injury concerns aren’t necessarily a make-or-break for the Bears, who took a chance on cornerback Jaylon Johnson last year after another shoulder surgery. The gamble paid off for Chicago, where Johnson shined in his rookie season before suffering a shoulder injury.

Considering the Bears are in need of another cornerback after they released Fuller to free up salary cap space, Newsome II would be a good option come pick 20.

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Asante Samuel vs Greg Newsome: Which CB makes more sense for Cowboys

Debating which cornerback prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft, Greg Newsome II or Asante Samuel Jr. is the better fit for the Dallas Cowboys.

The Dallas Cowboys had an extremely limited defensive backfield headed into free agency and the draft. Trevon Diggs seems to be a draft-day steal, selected No. 51 overall in the 2020 NFL draft. Anthony Brown is set to return in Year 2 of a three-year deal and can play both inside and outside, but seems to be an average player at both. Donovan Wilson emerged as a late- pick safety who has the ability to start and make plays. Those were the only known starters for the Cowboys going into this offseason though. Bringing back Jourdan Lewis on a cost-effective three-year deal gives the club more options, but still leaves them the ability to draft multiple defensive backs across multiple positions in the upcoming draft.

This is a recurring series where debate rages over two prospects in the same position group to ponder who is the best fit for the Cowboys. This edition will feature Florida State CB Asante Samuel, Jr. and Northwestern CB Greg Newsome II, and will feature Jordan Tucker of the FTF Sports Network.

Newsome stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 192 pounds. He played in three games in the 2020 season and put up 12 tackles, nine pass deflections and an interception. Samuel, Jr stands 5-foot-10 and weighs 183 pounds. In eight games he had 30 tackles, including one for a loss, three interceptions, six pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble of his own.