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

The defense should be back to being elite, but it takes every player

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.

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.

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: