From Elite to 113th: Emerson's Dramatic 2024 Decline
Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. experienced a significant regression in his third NFL season, falling from a key contributor on an elite defense to one of the league's lowest-rated corners in 2024.
"I try to play with confidence and passion and swag, but sometimes those plays they have maybe lingered longer than I would like them to, and maybe sat in the back of my mind," Emerson told The Chronicle-Telegram before the season finale. "And I probably played passive, and just not playing my game to its full potential."
Selected 68th overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, Emerson started six of 17 games as a rookie with 15 passes defensed. He took on an expanded role in 2023, starting 12 of 16 games and breaking up 14 passes to go with four interceptions that led the team. His performance helped anchor a Cleveland defense that ranked No. 1 overall and against the pass as the Browns won 11 games and made the playoffs.
According to Pro Football Focus, Emerson received overall grades of 72.5 as a rookie and 63.2 in 2023.
The 2024 season brought a dramatic decline. Emerson failed to record a single interception in 17 games after leading the team with four in 2023. He broke up just five passes, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. His Pro Football Focus grade dropped to 47.9 overall, including 48.4 in coverage, which ranked 111th of 116 corners. He ranked 113th of 118 cornerbacks overall.
The Browns' defense slipped to 19th overall and 12th against the pass as the team finished 3-14. Emerson got off to a difficult start, giving up touchdowns to Giants rookie Malik Nabers, Washington's Dyami Brown and Philadelphia's A.J. Brown over a four-week stretch, according to BrownsZone's Scott Petrak.
Despite coverage struggles, Emerson recorded a career-high 80 tackles, finishing second on the team. Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz credited him with improvement as a tackler.
"He has really, really improved this year as a tackler, particularly over the last few games," Schwartz said. "He's a tall guy, sometimes it's hard for those guys, high center of gravity, tall and long. It's hard in the open field. But I've been really impressed with his commitment to doing it and working at it."
Emerson acknowledged that mental lapses affected his performance.
"I feel like the plays I did give up I could have put myself in a better position Phase I, Phase 2, Phase 3," he said of the steps in coverage. "It might be something very small, but it's a fine detail that might put me a step behind."
The 24-year-old cornerback enters 2025 in the final year of his rookie contract and eligible for an extension. Browns general manager Andrew Berry addressed underperforming players after the season, stating: "Our best players, they have to play up to their potential."
Emerson framed his struggles as a learning experience. "You sometimes got to go through those times, those dark moments, and I feel like it builds character and I feel like it most definitely set a fire under me," he said.
He admitted he didn't always move past poor plays as quickly as he should have.
"I feel like there's a lot more in the tank, honestly," Emerson said. "I feel like I haven't reached my full potential. It's a year. It was a lot of growing pains, a lot of learning, a lot of lessons. And I know that it's going to make me a better player in the future and I'm just ready to get back to work."
Emerson remains confident about the defense's potential for 2025. "I know for a fact we got the right guys in the room," he said. "It's just about pulling together and going out there and make it happen with each other."
