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It is down to 47 days before the New Orleans Saints open their 2026 regular season. The Saints will play their first game on the road, facing the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13. Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., a newcomer to the team, is wearing No. 47 as New Orleans enters training camp.
Emerson comes to the Saints from the Cleveland Browns, where he was an outstanding corner for his first three years. However, he's coming off an Achilles injury that cost him all of 2025. Our Saints Player of the Day feature takes a closer look at one of the newest Saints.
A three-star recruit out of Pine Forest High School in Florida, Emerson chose Mississippi State over offers from several national powers. He'd see immediate action as a true freshman in 2019, intercepting 1 throw and recording 2 tackles for loss. In 2020, Emerson's 11 pass breakups were second in the SEC. He'd establish himself as one of the conference's top lockdown corners in 2021, earning 3rd Team All-SEC recognition before declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.
With the fourth pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Emerson was selected by the Cleveland Browns. He'd appear in every game as a rookie, starting six contests and playing 72% of the defensive snaps. Emerson tied for the team lead with 15 pass breakups and allowed 50.5% completion percentage. In 2023, he started nearly every game while playing 87% (863) of the defensive snaps. His 4 interceptions and 14 passes broken up both led the Browns as he surrendered a 46.8% completion percentage. Emerson didn't have an interception in 2024, breaking up 5 throws and allowing 60.8% of the targets against him. His 2025 season was ended before it ever began, suffering a torn Achilles during training camp.
New Orleans signed Emerson to a one-year contract shortly after this year's draft. This is a largely overlooked addition that could pay big dividends for the Saints defense. Martin Emerson was a top-level starter for three years before his injury, giving up a career completion percentage of less than 54% with 34 pass breakups. Emerson should at the very least give the defense a good third corner with the abilities to push hard for a starting role if healthy.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Martin Emerson Jr. is Saints Player of Day 47
Continue reading...
Emerson comes to the Saints from the Cleveland Browns, where he was an outstanding corner for his first three years. However, he's coming off an Achilles injury that cost him all of 2025. Our Saints Player of the Day feature takes a closer look at one of the newest Saints.
- Name (age): Marvin Emerson Jr. (25)
- Hometown: Pensacola, Fla.
- Position: Cornerback
- Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 201 pounds
- College: Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Relative Athletic Score: 8.44
- Drafted: Round 3, 68th overall in 2022 (Cleveland Browns)
- NFL experience: 4 years
- 2026 salary cap hit: $1.52 million
A three-star recruit out of Pine Forest High School in Florida, Emerson chose Mississippi State over offers from several national powers. He'd see immediate action as a true freshman in 2019, intercepting 1 throw and recording 2 tackles for loss. In 2020, Emerson's 11 pass breakups were second in the SEC. He'd establish himself as one of the conference's top lockdown corners in 2021, earning 3rd Team All-SEC recognition before declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft.
With the fourth pick in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Emerson was selected by the Cleveland Browns. He'd appear in every game as a rookie, starting six contests and playing 72% of the defensive snaps. Emerson tied for the team lead with 15 pass breakups and allowed 50.5% completion percentage. In 2023, he started nearly every game while playing 87% (863) of the defensive snaps. His 4 interceptions and 14 passes broken up both led the Browns as he surrendered a 46.8% completion percentage. Emerson didn't have an interception in 2024, breaking up 5 throws and allowing 60.8% of the targets against him. His 2025 season was ended before it ever began, suffering a torn Achilles during training camp.
New Orleans signed Emerson to a one-year contract shortly after this year's draft. This is a largely overlooked addition that could pay big dividends for the Saints defense. Martin Emerson was a top-level starter for three years before his injury, giving up a career completion percentage of less than 54% with 34 pass breakups. Emerson should at the very least give the defense a good third corner with the abilities to push hard for a starting role if healthy.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Martin Emerson Jr. is Saints Player of Day 47
Continue reading...
