Browns GM Andrew Berry all but confirmed whether or not a top free agent would return to Cleveland on a new deal
A top Cleveland Browns free agent CB Martin Emerson Jr. remains available and Andrew Berry was asked about the potential of him returning to Northeast Ohio.
The Cleveland Browns didn’t fight to keep really any of their own free agents outside of G Teven Jenkins and P Corey Bojorquez. Cleveland overhauled its offensive line and one of their top free agents remains available out there.
Martin Emerson Jr. is an unrestricted free agent after missing all of last season due to an Achilles injury. Still being available shows what his market is like to this point, so some may wonder if the Browns could look to bring him back for depth. If Andrew Berry’s latest comment means anything, Emerson’s return probably won’t happen.
Andrew Berry all but confirmed Martin Emerson Jr.’s future with the Browns
“Absolutely love MJ., both as a person and as a player,” Berry said at the NFL Annual League Meeting. “Selfishly, I would love to have him back. I think we’re also realistic that with MJ and the injury that he’s coming off of, to reach his personal goals, he’s also got to be in a position where he has maybe a strong opportunity to compete for a starting spot.”
With Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell in place as the starters on the boundary for Cleveland, Emerson would be hard-pressed to find snaps. Ward may miss a couple of games a season, but other than missed time due to injury Emerson would be playing just a few snaps a game. That’s a tough sell for a guy who is going to be signing a one-year prove-it deal coming off of injury.
Emerson needs to land somewhere he can compete to be a Week 1 starter and it’s not Cleveland. Emerson was a good find as a third-round pick back in 2022 by Berry, but his injury came after a disappointing 2024 season, which was the worst time possible in his career.
The former Brown had four interceptions in 2023 and looked the part of a Pro Bowler. 2024 was a big step back before the injury, and now Emerson is in search of a place where he can prove he’s still a strong press-man cornerback.
Unless something changes, it doesn’t look like a return to Cleveland is on tap for Emerson. However, nothing can be ruled out here with a player who is still young by NFL standards.
