The Detroit Lions are riding a four-game winning streak and firing on all cylinders, but injuries are threatening to derail the momentum they’ve built over the past several weeks.

Detroit lost starting cornerback D.J. Reed to a hamstring injury two weeks ago against the Cleveland Browns, which placed him on injured reserve and ensures he’ll miss games through the Week 8 bye. Then last week, rookie Terrion Arnold suffered a shoulder injury and was carted off the field.

With both starting corners sidelined for multiple weeks, Detroit’s secondary is extremely thin — making the Lions a prime candidate to pursue a trade before the NFL’s November 4 deadline.

One of the most logical and appealing trade options is Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II, who is in a contract year and unlikely to remain with the struggling 1-4 Browns beyond 2025.

Browns Expected to Shop Greg Newsome Before the Trade Deadline

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently ranked Newsome No. 9 on his list of the NFL’s top trade candidates ahead of the deadline, naming the Lions as one of the top potential destinations.

“For the Browns, trading cornerback Greg Newsome II before the deadline makes a lot of sense,” Knox wrote Wednesday, October 8. “While he’s a defensive starter and part of the unit keeping Cleveland competitive, the team is now turning to rookie QB Dillon Gabriel and clearly focusing on the future.”

Newsome is currently playing under the fifth-year team option of his rookie deal, worth just over $13 million. He’s expected to seek a long-term deal in free agency, something the rebuilding Browns appear unlikely to offer based on their history with him.

Knox estimated Newsome’s trade value at a conditional fourth-round pick, though Detroit might be able to acquire him for less if Cleveland continues to fall further out of contention.

Greg Newsome Could Fill Immediate Void in Lions’ Secondary and Provide Future Depth

A first-round pick in 2021, Newsome began his NFL career playing outside corner. When Martin Emerson Jr. joined the team in 2022 and won that role, Newsome shifted inside to nickel cornerback.

Emerson tore his Achilles during the preseason, allowing Newsome to move back outside — his preferred position.

If traded to Detroit, Newsome would likely remain on the outside for the next few games, with both Reed and Arnold expected to miss contests against the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers before the bye week.

T here’s also uncertainty surrounding Reed’s timeline. He previously admitted that he initially feared his season was over, believing his hamstring injury was severe enough to require surgery.

Head coach Dan Campbell told reporters earlier this week that Arnold would miss “a long time” with his shoulder issue. However, a follow-up evaluation offered optimism that he could return before November if recovery goes perfectly.

With a challenging slate of games coming up, Newsome would be an immediate asset for Detroit’s defense. And when Reed and Arnold return, his versatility would give the Lions valuable depth across the secondary.