PFF Projects Browns Breakout Player for 2023

PFF came out with a breakout player for every team in the AFC. The choice for the Cleveland Browns wasn't surprising, but it did feel as though they could have flipped a coin at that position.

With the success the Cleveland Browns have had in selecting corners, it wasn't a surprise that PFF's Zoltán Buday would project one of them to be the team's breakout player for this year, selecting Martin Emerson Jr. entering his second year. He might have been just as prudent to select Greg Newsome II as both might be poised to show major improvement this year.

Emerson thrived in his rookie year as a corner who could compete with bigger bodied wide receivers. Notably, his best game came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when he had success in limiting Mike Evans from impacting the game.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens had some highlight catches against Emerson, but it was the only way he was going to catch those passes. Emerson was consistently in good position and Pickens was able to make spectacular efforts to catch the ball.

Greg Newsome split his snaps, playing half of them on the outside and half in the slot. He took some time to adapt to the slot and has made it clear he didn't love being unprotected in that position, but he did get better in coverage from that spot. Newsome is still an effective man cover corner on the outside.

Both Newsome and Emerson could play better this year based on their own hard work, but there are multiple elements around them that might enable them to improve independent of them.

The Browns have improved their defensive line, bringing in players like Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Za'Darius Smith and Dalvin Tomlinson. Potentially being able to put opponents in more obvious passing situations with the pass rushers to stress the quarterback should benefit the secondary as a whole.

Additionally, Denzel Ward is coming off the worst season of his career and if he simply regresses to the mean, the other corners will benefit. Newsome and Emerson may face more targets, but they could also make more plays on the ball as a result.

More consistent safety play would also help. Juan Thornhill has been an effective center fielding deep safety. If nothing else, there should be fewer issues with communication and making switch calls.

Last and perhaps most importantly, the Browns have brought in Jim Schwartz to be the defensive coordinator. Newsome excels as a pure man corner and Schwartz will have him play far more of it. Similarly, Emerson can press and performed well in off man coverages.

These other factors wouldn't be the traditional definition of breaking out as they don't represent an epiphany in technique or confidence, but they do help put them in position to get there. At that point, it's a question of which will take that next step and become a breakout player.