Cleveland Browns sign their top pick from 2022 NFL Draft

Martin Emerson was the Cleveland Browns first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft at No. 68 overall and has already been signed to his rookie deal

The rookie contracts are starting to get hammered out. All across the league, announcements have been made where teams are coming to terms with their top picks from the 2022 NFL Draft and now the Cleveland Browns have gotten in on the fun.

Cleveland was able to lock up their first pick, which was Martin Emerson and Thomas Moore of Dawgs By Nature estimates the deal to be worth $5.75 million for four seasons with a bonus of $1.36 million.

A third-round pick, Emerson was taken at No. 68 overall and is set to compete with Greedy Williams for the third spot in a suddenly crowded cornerback room.

Emerson is well-built for the position at 6-foot-2 and 201-pounds. Ahead of him will be Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Williams. Cleveland also has A.J. Green, who has been developing into a nice player as well.

At Mississippi State, Emerson recorded 92 tackles, 15 pass defenses, and had one career pick. He’s known for his ability in press coverage and while his ball skills weren’t elite, he has shown he can make it difficult for any receiver to make a play on the ball while he’s around.

Perhaps even more important for him as a rookie, Emerson has experience on special teams in both punt and kick coverage. While a role in the nickel defense could be in his future, he will surely be seen on these units during his rookie campaign.

In the NFL, it’s imperative to have a deep secondary. The league is now extremely pass-happy. It’s even more important for the Browns who have several talented players but their top three have all had to deal with many nagging injuries in their respective careers.