After spending their first three picks on the offensive side of the ball, Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry got aggressive to trade up for S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo. The trade-up left the Browns still having seven picks left in the 2026 NFL draft. McNeil-Warren was the NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah’s 15th-rated overall player, but he fell to Cleveland near the end of the second round.

His college profile gives a sign of the talent he will bring to the Browns:

2022: (7 games played, 1 start), 7 tackles, forced fumble

2023: (14 games played, 5 starts), 69 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions

2024: (8 games played, 8 starts), 61 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, 5 pass breakups, interception, forced fumble

2025: (13 games played, 12 starts), 77 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sack, 5 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles

McNeil-Warren is a long and rangy safety prospect who fits best in the box and working around the line of scrimmage. A springy lower body allows him to succeed in zone coverage, where he can surprise quarterbacks with his length to snatch balls out of seemingly open passing lanes. With 9 career forced fumbles, McNeil-Warren has a nose for freeing the football with his own version of the “Peanut Punch.” McNeil-Warren will immediately help diversify a team’s defensive front with the numerous ways he can be deployed at or around the line of scrimmage.

Has a knack for getting the football out with nine career forced fumbles

Immense tackle range with notable combination of length and explosion

Plays like a linebacker and will run and chase down runs from weakside

Will end up being pigeonholed to a role around the line of scrimmage

Can be mismatched against via elusive pass-catchers

Jittery when dissecting runs which can hurt his click-and-close speed