Summary

Greg Newsome II was selected in the 1st Round (#26 Overall) in the 2021 Draft out of Northwestern. Newsome is a promising young cornerback whose package of size, speed, ball skills and coverage versatility give him a strong foundation. His major strengths lie in his ability to stay with receivers, his ball‑awareness in the air, and his adaptability in coverage schemes. His limitations center around physicality in run support, elite transition bursts, and durability/consistency questions. But if he continues to develop in those areas, he has the tools to be a high‑end starter in the NFL.

Strengths

• Coverage ability & athleticism: Newsome possesses good straight‑line speed (reported 4.39 s 40‑yard dash in college) and the agility to keep up with receivers in off‑man or zone. He has long arms and a tallish frame for the position, which helps him contest passes and gives him leverage in boundary or deep‑zone situations. NFL Draft Buzz

• Instincts & ball skills: Has shown good anticipation, breaks on the ball, and ability to make plays in the air (pass deflections) rather than relying purely on athleticism. Comfortable in different coverage schemes (press, off‑man, zone) which gives him versatility in defensive designs. NFL Draft Buzz

• Physical and mental maturity: Coaches and scouts have praised his film study, discipline, and willingness to take on challenging assignments—he’s not just a physical prospect but has a solid football IQ. In run support, he shows willingness to step up and tackle rather than staying purely in deep zones. NFL Draft Buzz

Weaknesses

• Explosiveness in transitions & bend: Despite his straight‑line speed, some reports say he lacks elite burst in transitions (plant & drive) and can play a bit high in his backpedal, which can allow separations when facing very explosive receivers. Needs better fluidity in his change of direction and hip flexibility when breaking to the ball. NFL Draft Buzz

• Durability / availability and experience: In college, Newsome missed a number of games, which raised some durability questions before he entered the NFL. While he has been productive, he’s still relatively early in his career and so consistency over many seasons is a key area of projection.

• Run‑support and physicality against blocks While he does step up in run defense, some evaluators highlight that he can struggle with shedding blocks or winning when engaged by bigger receivers or tight ends, meaning block‑shedding and physical mismatch situations are areas to refine. Also, while his pass deflection numbers are solid, his interception totals have been modest, indicating there’s perhaps room to improve in finishing plays and making more “splash” impact.

Fit & Outlook

Newsome is well‑suited to defenses that value versatile cornerbacks who can play both outside boundary and in zone schemes. His ability to handle press‑man and off coverage, combined with his size and ball skills, make him a potential starter on the outside. For teams that run mixed coverages and need corners who can stay on top of receivers rather than just mirror them, he fits well. If Newsome continues refining his technique (especially in transitions and block‑shedding) and maintains his health, his trajectory is toward being a reliable starting cornerback with upside to become a top‑30‑type at his position. Given his strengths, he could be a difference‑maker in specific matchups (boundary, red zone) while working toward fuller roles. If his weaknesses persist (durability, physical matchups, finishing plays), he may settle as a solid starter but not necessarily elite.