PFF names Browns CB 'most underrated player' and 'breakout candidate'

The Browns have seen a lot of roster turnover this offseason. However, Pro Football Focus believes it could be a second-year player who takes the spotlight from Cleveland's newest additions.

PFF named CB Martin Emerson, the Browns' 2022 third-round pick, as the team's "most underrated player" and "breakout candidate" for 2023.

In 2022, Emerson didn't miss a game, totaling 63 tackles, one sack and 15 passes defensed. 

"Emerson played a significant role for the Browns all season, as he finished the year with the seventh-most snaps among first-year cornerbacks," PFF writes. "Emerson ranked seventh among cornerbacks in 2022 by being directly responsible for forcing an incompletion on 20.0 percent of the targets thrown into his coverage."

The 22-year-old certainly has the capability to take his game to another level this season.

Emerson is part of an already talented cornerback room that includes Denzel Ward and Greg Newsome II, but it may be Cleveland's defensive front that helps him make the leap in 2023.

The Browns added DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DE Za'Darius Smith and DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo this offseason to bolster their trenches. If they can get after the quarterback, Emerson's job will become even easier.

Cleveland certainly has high expectations for 2023, but it will take a combination of players, including Emerson, to reach those aspirations.