Browns Best Moves of 2022: #2 Drafting Martin Emerson Jr.

After a strong rookie season, it's difficult to underplay how great a selection cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. was for the Cleveland Browns. It's easily one of the best moves of this past season.

The Cleveland Browns didn't make a selection in the 2022 NFL Draft until the third round, 68th overall, but they hit big with cornerback Martin Emerson. Trusting in taking the best player available, the Browns have an embarrassment of riches at corner, which will be a critical component in turning around the defense.

With issues along the defensive line and wide receiver position, it came as a surprise when the Browns selected a player at arguably their deepest position with their first pick. Emerson was theoretically the fifth or sixth corner on the team behind Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Troy Hill, Greedy Williams and A.J. Green.

The Browns would then trade Hill for a fifth-round pick in 2023 after securing Emerson, which begged the question what the Browns would do in the slot. Perhaps the Browns would move Emerson there. But as camp got underway, the Browns made the surprising announcement that Newsome would be cross training, operating in the slot as well as on the outside.

At that point, it sounded as though Greedy Williams would be the corner to play on the outside opposite Ward when the team utilized three corners. Williams would get his shot to take that role, but a shoulder injury and a surging Emerson quickly rendered him an afterthought.

Emerson was one of the best rookie corners in the league. Sauce Gardner of the New York Jets and Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks were both outstanding and earned most of the rookie honors this season, but Emerson was impressive in his own right. 

Even as a rookie, Emerson's strength at the line of scrimmage was notable. He was able to jam and carry receivers effectively. Emerson was a corner who could compete against bigger bodied receivers, something the Browns simply had lacked in previous seasons. Just within the division, the Browns face teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers who boasted receivers that can overpower smaller corners.

Emerson had some rough outings at the early part of the season, but found his groove and turned in a number of outstanding performances. The one that stands out most was against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he erased Mike Evans.

Now, the Browns have three talented cover corners. In any given matchup, the Browns can mix and match as needed. For example, Emerson had a major role in that Bucs game, but Newsome played 99 percent of defensive reps against the Baltimore Ravens this season.

Newsome has the talent to be an excellent slot corner, but the fact he can play anywhere on the field has tremendous value to the Browns. Having Emerson on the roster gives their coaching staff the freedom to find the best way to utilize Newsome as well as Emerson. It gives the defense flexibility, especially as they look poised to play an even higher amount of man coverage under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Had the Browns simply stood pat and selected Emerson at 44, the Browns would be thrilled with the return on the investment. However, the Browns traded back, getting picks 68, 108 and 124, which enabled them to select Emerson, defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey and kicker Cade York.

It remains to be seen if Winfrey or York pan out, but the value in the trade was obvious. They got three players for the price of one and Emerson has comfortably outplayed his draft slotting.

Looking ahead, if Denzel Ward can bounce back after a down year and Newsome gains further confidence as a movable piece, the Browns should expect a higher level of play from their corners. Likewise, Emerson will have to adjust to opponents having tape to evaluate, finding ways to beat him.

Nothing would help these corners more than upgrading the defensive line and pass rush. That more than anything else could allow Emerson and the rest of these corners to be a dominant trio.

Even with a mediocre pass rush, Martin Emerson didn't allow early season frustrations to discourage him, learning and adapting quickly. In a year where the Cleveland Browns couldn't expect major contributions from their rookie class outside of the kicker, Emerson proved to be one of the better rookies in the league, adding to a pool of young talent and providing more reason to believe that a strong defense is an achievable goal for the 2023 season.

The Rest of the List

#1 Signing Ethan Pocic

#3 Trading for Amari Cooper

#4 Signing Jacoby Brissett

#5 Extending David Njoku