When the Cleveland Browns traded back up into the second round to land Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren No. 58 overall, it looked like they had gotten one of the biggest defensive steals of the 2026 NFL Draft.
McNeil-Warren was flying around and making plays all throughout OTAs and training camp, looking like a ball-hawk and an athletic freak on clips that circulated around social media. But after two weeks, his contributions on defense have been pretty much nonexistent.
That said, the second-round pick is still making an impact on Todd Monken's team.
McNeil-Warren has been one of the team's primary special teams contributors, carving out an unexpected role in Year 1.
Special teams is giving Emmanuel McNeil-Warren a chance to shine while he waits his turn on defense
McNeil-Warren logged three tackles on 17 special teams snaps in Week 2. Pro Football Focus gave him the team's highest special teams grade (67.8), all while still being a part-time player on defense (10 snaps).
While that might be surprising to a degree, this isn't uncharted territory for him. He was mostly a depth piece on defense and a special-teams guy as a true freshman at Toledo. He continued to contribute to that unit, albeit to a lesser degree, in the following years. But he always showed a willingness to play there if needed:
“I’m a playmaker,” McNeil-Warren said after being drafted. “Whenever I see the ball, I’m going to go to that ball. I’ll impact the game anywhere — defense, special teams."
With the Browns boasting one of the most underrated safety tandems in the game, they can afford to take their time with their new weapon. Grant Delpit and Ronnie Hickman can hold down the fort while the rookie earns his stripes on Byron Storer's special teams unit.
Special teams play was a headache during the Bubba Ventrone era, so the team's strides in that area have been a big breath of fresh air. Of course, that's not just because of McNeil-Warren, but he made three special teams tackles in Week 2 against the Buccaneers and was the team's highest-graded player on those units, per Pro Football Focus.
It shouldn't be long before defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg gives McNeil-Warren a longer leash on defense. He's raw, but the instincts and physical tools are mesmerizing, and Myles Harden has struggled at times in the slot.
Maybe having McNeil-Warren helps them rotate the defensive backfield here and there, with Delpit moving to nickel in certain packages. McNeil-Warren's long frame and closing speed should help him hold his own on defense, even if he's not quite there yet with the playbook.
The Browns overhauled their roster with a big influx of talent on both sides of the ball, but some players need more time to grasp the speed of the professional game.
In the meantime, McNeil-Warren will continue to help in whatever capacity the team needs him.
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