The New Orleans Saints may have found a steal in free agency with the signing of cornerback Martin Emerson Jr.—but his health will be the key to unlocking his potential.
After waiting until the seventh round of the NFL Draft to select Iowa's TJ Hall, the Saints finally addressed their need at cornerback by bringing in the former Cleveland Browns starter on Tuesday. Emerson fills the void left by Alontae Taylor's departure in free agency, and if he's fully recovered from a season-ending Achilles injury, he could be a bargain addition to the secondary.
Emerson brings three years of starting experience to New Orleans, and at minimum, he projects as the third corner behind Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley. His physical, man-to-man style fits well with what defensive coordinators look for in today's NFL—good size combined with agility that allows him to stick with receivers.
Drafted in the third round (68th overall) by Cleveland in 2022, Emerson was the seventh cornerback selected that year. His college career at Mississippi State included just one interception but 15 pass breakups, with a team-high 11 in 2020. He earned Third Team All-SEC honors in 2021 before making the jump to the pros.
As a rookie, Emerson played in all 17 games with six starts, logging 72% of Cleveland's defensive snaps. He tied for the team lead with 15 pass breakups, added a sack, and led all Browns defensive backs with 63 tackles. In 2023, he took a major leap forward, leading the team with four interceptions and 14 passes broken up while starting 12 of 16 games and playing 87% of defensive snaps.
While his production dipped in 2024—no interceptions and just five pass breakups—he still started 15 of 17 games and recorded 80 tackles, second-most on the team. Over his three seasons, Emerson has allowed only a 53.2% completion rate, showing he can lock down his assignment when healthy.
The big question mark is his Achilles injury, suffered during training camp last year, which cost him the entire 2025 season. If Emerson can return to form, the Saints may have landed a starting-caliber corner at a fraction of the typical cost—exactly the kind of savvy move that builds championship depth.