Browns defender who will need to better his game in 2025, do you think it will happen?

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The Cleveland Browns’ defense was ranked as the top unit in the NFL just two seasons ago. Last year, there were the double”I’s”: issues and injuries.

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Several players had a great season, whereas others regressed. Some athletes became injured once again, and when the year was over, their contract was up, and the team simply didn’t call them back. Players such as Mo Hurst are really good at what they do; they just can’t stay on the field.

One player

who had a down season was cornerback Martin Emerson, Jr.

Emerson was viewed as a sure-fire candidate for the Pro Bowl if he continued playing like he did. In fact, after this second season, most folks assumed he had made the All-Star ballot with the season he had, where he allowed just 499 receiving yards and zero touchdowns.

Emerson is known for being a long, physical corner in the league who caused problems on the field. He can shadow the best of the best, which is a relief for the defense not to have to rely on Denzel Ward to leave his side of the field in order to cover their opponent’s best receiver.

In his rookie season, Greg Newsome was opposite Ward on the outside, which meant Cleveland had two first-round draft picks manning the corners. Emerson had a great camp, and by Week 6 against the New England Patriots, he had pushed Newsome to the slot position and was working the outside cornerback spot along with Ward. For the remainder of the year, it was Emerson’s position.

In 2023, Emerson entered training camp as the starter opposite Ward, despite being a third-round draft pick.

The defensive backfield is a hallmark of GM Andrew Berry. Each season, this group is his priority. He was a starting cornerback for Harvard in 2007 and 2008. He then went into scouting with the Indianapolis Colts, and within six years, he would serve as their pro scouting coordinator. So, Berry’s background is not only as a defensive back, but also in scouting defensive backs.

Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images

Which means if nothing else, the cornerback and safety positions become a shining star for DC Jim Schwartz’s defense. It was not by coincidence that when the Browns’ defense was ranked at the top in the NFL two seasons ago, Cleveland led most defensive passing categories.

Berry has taken over the Browns’ college draft for six years. This past draft was the first one in which he did not select a cornerback or a safety.

Let’s take a look at Emerson’s pass coverage by year. Note that the best “Pass Rating” is the lowest number, not the highest:

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2022 (Rookie season)

Targets: 91

Completions: 46

Completion %: 50.5

Yards: 490

Touchdowns allowed: 3

Interceptions: 0

Batted Passes: 15

Pass Rating: 77.6

2023

Targets: 79

Completions: 37

Completion %: 46.8

Yards: 499

Touchdowns allowed: 0

Interceptions: 4

Batted Passes: 14

Pass Rating: 46.8

Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images

2024

Targets: 97

Completions: 59

Completion %: 60.8

Yards: 701

Touchdowns allowed: 5

Interceptions: 0

Batted Passes: 5

Pass Rating: 100.1

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After Emerson’s second season, it was observed that the Browns could have bookend Pro Bowlers very soon with Ward on the left side and Emerson manning the right cornerback spot.

However, looking at his career pass defense stats, it is obvious there were issues from 2023 to 2024. Every category suffered.

But why? What happened from one year to the next?

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2024 was not kind to Emerson. He missed tackles - seven to be exact. But that has always been a problem with him, as he missed 10 the year before and six his rookie year. At times, he tends to “grab” at his receiver instead of going for legs and taking him down.

There were good games followed by a stretch in the season where he missed numerous assignments, gave up big gains, and even lost his man completely, which ended up being scores.

Emerson is still a young player at only 24 years old. But how does a player look sharp with strong performances in his first two seasons, and then have lapses of coverage almost every game in Year 3? From four interceptions to none is also an issue.

The Browns’ best players have to play up to their potential.

Three CB luxury

The truth is, the Browns are about to face a really big decision when it comes to Emerson, or M.J., as he is known in his family (for “Martin Junior”). What if the talented defensive back has another off-year?

Emerson is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract he signed back in 2022. The deal was for $5.471 million, and as we all know, the final year is the one that pays the most. After getting $705,000 his first season, this year he will be paid $3.606 million with a cap hit of $3.946 million.

Nobody is talking about cutting him, but there have been several stories that suggested Cleveland trade him in order to not have to deal with whether the Browns are getting the 2022/2023 version of Emerson or the 2024 edition.

If he comes through like we all assume that he will, and has a Pro Bowl-caliber season, then Browns GM Andrew Berry will be more than happy to offer him a second contract with more zeros attached. But if he resorts to what we saw last year, then his trade value plummets.

Not that the Browns have a lot of capital riding on Emerson as of yet. It’s just, he played so well in 2023 and was a shock to many that he did not make the Pro Bowl that year.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Cleveland’s defense is fortunate to have three really good cornerbacks. In addition to Emerson, there are former first-round draft picks Ward and Newsome.

Ward was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and has been voted to the Pro Bowl four times after being taken fourth overall in the 2018 NFL draft. Newsome has been a roller coaster of talent, but is a dependable pass defender. He is another name that will come up occasionally in trade situations.

But for now, the Browns are enjoying an indulgence for any NFL club in that they have three very capable cornerbacks as starters. And on the bench is another young hopeful in Cam Mitchell, who the coaching staff is very high on and played 372 snaps last year, or 34.32% of all defensive plays. This ranked fourth most of all cornerbacks, which means Mitchell is first off the bench.

Cleveland just may have three cornerbacks who could garner Pro Bowl voting this season. Or, they may have Ward with another great season, and two problem areas to have to deal with.

Berry has zero issue with paying all three guys’ bank. The old saying? You can’t have too many shut-down corners; it rings true for every team at every level.

And since the Browns are an analytics team, that states to pay stud corners handsomely. And Cleveland fans want these three to be paid very well. However, the talent must match the play.

Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images

Berry is not going to offer Emerson a huge second contract if he struggles like he did last season. Absolutely no, sir. He may give him a two-year deal and keep him, but it won’t be bank or long-term, where they are stuck with him at some point and will become more incentive-based, more so than guaranteed funds.

And if Emerson struggles again, his next contract will be a pay cut.

Then again, after this year, the Browns may simply move on from Emerson. Two really good seasons followed by two down ones seasons would seem to be a trend rather than a learning curve. And one thing Berry knows all too well, you can’t mess around with the defensive pass defense. Seeing receivers open or catching uncontested balls always becomes a game-changer.

Schwartz requires his cornerbacks to handle their man all by themselves and to smother the receiver. There is some safety help, but not often. It’s just the way the talented DC coaches and the success he has had in this area are well-documented.

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The defense also has the luxury of having several prominent safeties like Grant Delpit, youngster Ronnie Hickman, and two seasoned veterans that were signed this year, in Damontae Kazee and Rayshawn Jenkins.

Now, to be fair, the defense as a whole regressed in 2024.

Injuries were the largest issue to LBs Jordan Hicks (triceps) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip), DTs Shelby Harris (elbow), Michael Hall (knee), and Mo Hurst (ankle), safeties Delpit (concussion) and Hickman (ankle), CBs Tony Brown (foot), Myles Harden (shin), Ward (hamstring), and Newsome (hamstring), DEs Alex Wright (triceps), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (knee), and Sam Kamara (concussion), and the crucial loss of linebacker JOK (neck).

The Myles effect

Myles Garrett is the undisputed leader of the defense. When he talks, others listen.

Early in training camp, he was asked about some defensive situations. The subject came to Emerson, and the unpleasant season he had last year.

“I think [Martin Emerson Jr.] knows that he didn’t have the year that he wanted to last year, and he had a great year before that. He wants to prove that he’s the guy in that room.”

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Garrett mentioned that Emerson should be ready to take another step in his development, instead of sliding back into another dreadful year. This is Garrett offering accountability from another defender. Garrett understands that Emerson has the talent and will need to find a method to rebound.

Emerson told The Chronicle-Telegram before last year’s season finale:

“You sometimes got to go through those times, those dark moments, and I feel like it builds character and I feel like it most definitely set a fire under me.”

If Emerson gets back to his roots as an up-and-comer, he won’t have to worry about being traded – or released. The Browns will proudly pay him what he is worth. Plus, provides several years’ worth of stability while Emerson continues to be one of the essential pieces for this defense. And he did have his best year as far as tackling goes with 80 total tackles, which ranked second on the team.

But for now, there aren’t any contract extension talks.

The words of Garrett regarding Emerson should be viewed as encouragement and motivation:

“(M.J.) wants to continue to improve. That should always be the mindset in your room. You are out there to show you are the very best. I want to see him achieve those goals for himself.”

Last year is gone. The trials and tribulations from a disappointing season should make him a better player. This year could actually become Emerson’s big season.

The only question is: will it?

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