ESPN names the one time Cleveland Browns starter they believe is about to walk out the door in free agency

Cleveland could be saying goodbye to their 2022 third-round pick.

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
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Things are about to heat up for the Cleveland Browns in a big way in just a few days with free agency set to begin on Monday. 

Cleveland started their offseason moves by trading for OT Tytus Howard from the Houston Texans on Monday. The Browns’ biggest changes will come along the offensive line where all five starters are set to be free agents. 

The Browns will have a number of their own free agents to make decisions on bringing back. Several of them have inevitably played their last bit of ball in Cleveland. 

ESPN predicts the player who won’t be returning to Cleveland in free agency 

Former third-round 2022 third-round pick CB Martin Emerson Jr. is set to be a free agent and was the player named by ESPN who likely won’t be returning to Cleveland.

“The 2022 third-round pick appeared to be on a Pro Bowl track before he struggled in 2024 and had an Achilles injury that cost him the 2025 season,” ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi wrote. “General manager Andrew Berry acknowledged that Emerson’s future in Cleveland is “unsettled.” With Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell entrenched as starters, Emerson could look for a new opportunity elsewhere to bounce back from his injury.”

The writing was put on the wall last season when the Browns traded for CB Tyson Campbell from the Jacksonville Jaguars. Campbell is the starting boundary cornerback opposite of Denzel Ward and is under contract through the 2028 season. Emerson isn’t a player fit for the slot, so he’d have to be comfortable being depth in Cleveland and it seems like a long shot. 

Emerson suffering the Achilles injury during camp last year forced him to miss all of 2025 after being a starter his first three seasons in Cleveland. Emerson intercepted four passes in 2023 when he had a borderline Pro Bowl-level season. Emerson took a step back in 2024 as a coverage corner and 2025 was set to be his money year. 

Browns general manager Andrew Berry selected Emerson in the third round and it looked like a real steal early on. The Achilles injury all but derailed his potential future in Cleveland. The Browns traded Greg Newsome II for Campbell to be their long-term cornerback opposite of Ward. 

Emerson will be signing a one-year deal somewhere to show he’s healthy and that he’s healthy following the missed season. The Browns do need some depth at cornerback, but I’d be surprised if it meant bringing back Emerson.

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