5 things we learned in Browns Preseason Week 1 win over Jaguars
By Randy Gurzi
2. You can never have too many cornerbacks
Cleveland’s top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft didn’t come until the third round thanks to their trade for Deshaun Watson as well as their decision to drop out of the second round — in another trade with the Houston Texans.
Once on the clock, they added Martin Emerson, Jr. from Mississippi State and then quickly traded away veteran Troy Hill. With Emerson on the roster, they now have three capable starters in Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, and Greedy Williams as well as a rookie they believe can develop into a starter.
In his debut game, Emerson showed why Cleveland has such faith in him as the lengthy cornerback ripped the ball out of Jeff Cotton’s hands and ran it back for a pick-six.
"I'll take that!" 😏
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 13, 2022
-MJ probably#CLEvsJAX | @MartyMargg1 pic.twitter.com/kNLKyCU9pE
Emerson was beaten on a deep ball earlier in the game, so this was sweet revenge for him. It also showed that he has a short memory and can put poor plays out of his mind — which is key for any cornerback.
Even with his solid play, there’s no guarantee Emerson will be the No. 4 guy when the regular season starts. A.J. Green is also under contract and he has played well when given a chance.
They also saw Herb Miller step up and record an impressive interception in the end zone — as he too put a bad play in the rearview by recording the pick shortly after being flagged for pass interference that put the Jags in scoring range.
The NFL is now a passing league and Cleveland understands this as well as anyone, which is why they know they can never have enough corners.