Browns studs and duds: Reserves shine in Preseason Week 1 win

Stud: Martin Emerson, Cornerback

Cleveland’s first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft came in Round 3, and it was a bit of a surprise when Martin Emerson was the name we heard. The Browns already had three potential starting corners in Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Greedy Williams. They did also have Troy Hill, but he was traded during the draft.

Even though he was joining a crowded room, it was easy to see what the front office saw in Emerson. He’s a tall and physical cornerback, and it didn’t take long for him to show off his strength. A pass meant for Jeff Cotton hit the receiver in the hands but Emerson completely bullied him and ripped the ball away.

He then turned and ran it up the field for a touchdown, giving Cleveland a 14-13 lead heading into the half.

Dud: Anthony Schwartz, Wide Receiver

The Browns used a third-round pick on Auburn receiver Anthony Schwartz last season and he had a year to forget. He finished with just 10 receptions and was remembered more for giving up on the route that led to Baker Mayfield’s shoulder injury than anything else he did as a rookie.

Throughout the offseason, there were calls from fans to move on from Schwartz, but that’s not going to happen. This staff added him knowing that it would take some time for him to develop. That doesn’t mean they were thrilled with what they saw in the first preseason game of his second season.

Schwartz had three passes come his way and none were caught. The first was severely overthrown by Deshaun Watson, but the others were dropped by Schwartz.

He had clearly earned the trust of Watson during training camp but that has to be waning after this performance.