Cleveland Browns: 3 biggest needs remaining after 2022 NFL Draft

Cleveland Browns Position to upgrade via Free Agency No. 3 – Defensive Back

So, the Cleveland Browns ended up drafting a cornerback in round three which was a bit surprising. What was even more surprising was the trade of starting nickel Troy Hill to the L.A. Rams. The dust is still settling on that, but the optics are strange on that one as the Browns will actually eat more cap space in a trade than keeping him on the roster.

Martin Emerson from Mississippi State is a talented defensive back with a ton of length. But the real question is, is he better than the top four corners on the roster currently? When the pick initially happened, I was wondering if Emerson would even make the final roster.

The trade of Hill to L.A. started to put the puzzle together a bit more, and it appears that Greedy Williams, A.J. Green, and Emerson will be fighting for the nickel position. Remember, Joe Woods loves to utilize the three-safety look, so you can never have enough defensive backs on the roster, especially capable ones.

I like Emerson at nickel because of his length, but it’s a bold strategy to count on a rookie for a ton of production. I would still expect Berry to bring in a veteran presence to balance out the roster.