Browns’ offseason decision is already showing signs of backfiring not even 2 weeks into the preseason
The Cleveland Browns very well could have brought back one of their draft picks for another season in the offseason. Cleveland’s decision not to do so with a proven player is already looking silly for the Browns.
The Cleveland Browns’ preseason loss to the Chicago Bears gave fans a first look at the quarterback battle playing out against another team, but it also provided a glimpse at every other area of the roster.
One position that stood out for the wrong reasons was cornerback depth. The players battling to play behind Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell did little to inspire confidence about what the Browns’ secondary will look like during the 2026 regular season.
Undrafted free agent cornerback Michael Coats Jr. was easily the most impressive corner Cleveland had on Saturday, recording one pass breakup and one interception. It was a solid day for the young defensive back. Past that, the Browns didn’t have any players who appear to be locks for the room. If either Ward or Campbell goes down, Cleveland is going to be hurting at the position.
That reality makes the current cornerback room look even more questionable given the Browns’ decision not to bring back Martin Emerson Jr. this offseason.
The Browns letting Martin Emerson Jr. walk might sting now and later
Emerson signed a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints this offseason following a 2025 campaign he missed entirely while recovering from an Achilles injury. The former third-round pick of the Browns in the 2022 NFL Draft had a solid rookie season when Cleveland still had Greg Newsome II. Emerson became the starting outside cornerback, pushing Newsome to the inside. He had four interceptions and was a borderline Pro Bowl-caliber player in 2023 before taking a step back in 2024 and then suffering the Achilles injury ahead of the 2025 season.
Emerson had a good showing with the Saints in their first preseason game over the weekend, recording three pass breakups in just 13 coverage snaps. He looked the part of a player who can make New Orleans’ roster and provide strong cornerback play if the Saints need him to step into a starting role at any point. That’s exactly what the Browns could use right now.
His 6-foot-2 frame has always matched up well against bigger wide receivers, and he’s a known commodity in Cleveland. Fans liked Emerson, even accounting for his down 2024 season. He’s now trying to prove he can bounce back following a serious injury, and the early signs with the Saints suggest he’s going to be able to do so.
Browns’ cornerback depth just isn’t good enough
Cleveland is relying on players like D’Angelo Ross, Myles Bryant, Tre Avery, and Nate Evans to potentially fill out its cornerback depth. That room just isn’t good enough. The Browns, in my opinion, should have brought back Emerson. He’s proven in the NFL, and Cleveland kept him around during the early part of the offseason when he was still working out with the team. The Browns had a close look at how his rehab was progressing through last season, so they have more insight on the situation than anyone.
Still, we all saw a player on Saturday who can clearly still play and looked better than what the Browns had to offer against the Bears. Time will tell whether that decision comes back to bite Cleveland, but the early returns aren’t encouraging. I don’t believe in overreactions from a single preseason game, but it’s apparent here for the Browns.
