Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II drafted by Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns selected Northwestern cornerback Greg Newsome II with the No. 26 pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday.

The 6-foot-0, 192-pound Newsome was named a second-team All-American by Phil Steele and the Football Writer Association of America in 2020. He was an All-Big Ten first-team selection who led the conference with 10 passes defended (nine break up and one interception). He didn’t allow a third-down completion during the regular season.

According to ESPN’s pre-draft analysis, Newsome is “a scheme versatile corner with the size, instincts and top-end speed to match up in press, compete in off-man coverage and make plays in zone. He’s not a playmaker, but he does an above-average job of breaking up passes. Newsome is a solid tackler in run support and after the catch.”

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Newsome is the first defensive back taken by the Browns in the first round since 2018 when they selected Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward with the No. 4 pick.

Newsome was the fourth cornerback taken in the first round, following South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn (No. 8 to Carolina Panthers), Alabama’s Patrick Surtain II (No. 9 to Denver Broncos) and Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley (No. 22 to Tennessee Titans).

Northwestern, which hadn’t seen a player drafted in the first round since 2005, had two players drafted in the first round. Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater went to the San Diego Chargers with the No. 13 pick.

Welcome to Cleveland, Greg Newsome II❗️#BrownsDraft | #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/wlCHYvTypK
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) April 30, 2021

Before tonight, Northwestern's last first-round pick came in 2005.

Greg Newsome II makes that ✌️ on the night for the Wildcats, selected at No. 26 for the Browns. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/63Js8SqLl8
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 30, 2021