Martin Emerson

NFL CAREER – After spending the 2025 season on Injured Reserve for the Cleveland Browns after suffering an Achilles tendon injury at the start of training camp, this veteran defender will compete for snaps in the Saints secondary in training camp in 2026. Originally a third round draft pick (68^th overall) of the Browns in 2022 out of Mississippi State, the Pensacola, Fla. native has appeared in 50 regular season games with 33 starts, where he recorded 202 tackles (158 solo), one sack, four interceptions, 34 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

NFL CAREER – After spending the 2025 season on Injured Reserve for the Cleveland Browns after suffering an Achilles tendon injury at the start of training camp, this veteran defender will compete for snaps in the Saints secondary in training camp in 2026. Originally a third round draft pick (68^th overall) of the Browns in 2022 out of Mississippi State, the Pensacola, Fla. native has appeared in 50 regular season games with 33 starts, where he recorded 202 tackles (158 solo), one sack, four interceptions, 34 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed by the Saints, 4/28/26; Placed on Injured Reserve by the Browns (Achilles), 7/30/25; Signed by the Browns to a four-year contract, 5/12/22; Selected by the Browns in the third round (68th overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft.

2025 – In final season with Browns, spent season on Injured Reserve after suffering Achilles injury at the start of training camp. 2024 – Started 15 of 17 games (did not start, Oct. 27 vs. Baltimore and Dec. 22 at Cincinnati) for Browns and registered a career high 80 tackles. Also added five pass deflections (tied for second on team), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery…Finished with three tackles (one solo) and one pass breakup in 18-13 win at Jacksonville, Sept. 15…In 29-24 win vs. Baltimore, made four solo tackles and one pass breakup…Recorded six solo tackles in 24-19 Thursday Night Football win vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 8. 2023 – Became one of three NFL players to record at least 14 passes defensed in 2022 and 2023, joining CB Darius Slay and CB Darius Williams. Led Browns with four interceptions and tied for team lead with 14 passes defended in 2023, while recording 58 tackles (45 solo). Helped Browns defense lead the NFL in total yards allowed and passing yards allowed in 2023…Recorded first career interception, while adding six tackles and two passes defensed vs. San Francisco, Oct. 15…Recorded first career multiple interception game after securing two vs. Jacksonville, Dec. 10, while adding three passes defensed. 2022 – Recorded 15 passes defensed in 2022 for Browns, which tied for the team lead, tied for sixth overall in NFL and third among all rookies, also recording 63 tackles (51 solo) and a sack…In NFL debut at Carolina, Sept. 11, recorded five tackles (four solo) in 26-24 victory…Had four solo tackles in 29-17 win vs. Pittsburgh, Sept. 22…Started and finished with career-high nine tackles (six solo) and two pass breakups in 32-13 win vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 31, on Monday Night Football…Had four tackles (three solo) and career-high four pass breakups in 23-17 overtime win vs. Tampa Bay, Nov. 27.

COLLEGE – Finished college career at Mississippi State with 28 total starts in 36 games played. Amassed 154 tackles, six tackles for loss, one interception, 16 pass breakups and forced a fumble over three-year career. Ranked 11th in forced incompletions (11) among Power Five cornerbacks, according to PFF (min. 200 coverage snaps) in 2020…Started 12 games in 2021. His 89.6 coverage grade was the highest by an SEC cornerback since 2020, as he was selected by PFF as third-team All-SEC and honorable mention All-American (flex position). Only targeted on 50 of 375 snaps in coverage (13.3 percent) and was only targeted on 59 of his 388 snaps in coverage (15.2 percent) in 2020. Allowed one or fewer receptions in six different games. Made 50 tackles, including 32 solo stops, 3.0 tackles for loss and broke up three passes…At Memphis (9/18): Made a season-high eight tackles, including 1.0 for loss…No. 2 Alabama (10/16): Recorded seven tackles, including stop for loss…No. 9 Mississippi (11/25): Turned in an impressive season-high 77.5 coverage grade…In 2020, started all 11 games. Graded as the No. 7 cornerback in the FBS and No. 3 in the SEC in coverage grade (82.9) by PFF (min. 200 coverage snaps), being recognized by organization with second-team All-Southeastern Conference. Tied for No. 11 in forced incompletions (11) among Power Five cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus (min. 200 coverage snaps)…At Louisiana State (9/26): Finished game with four tackles…Arkansas (10/3): Recorded eight stops with one tackle for loss. Graded as State's top defender (74.8) and best in coverage (73.0) according to PFF. Allowed just 18 yards on four targets…At Kentucky (10/10): Posted one tackle and one pass breakup, as part of a defense that allowed only 157 yards of total offense, the fewest yielded by the Bulldogs in an SEC contest since 2008 against Vanderbilt (107 yards)…Texas A&M (10/17): Logged nine tackles, including four solo stops and broke up one pass. Graded as State's top tackler (83.0), according to Pro Football Focus…At Alabama (10/31): Totaled five stops…Vanderbilt (11/7): Finished with 10 tackles (five solo). Added half a stop for loss and a pass breakup. Combined with Aaron Brule for a tackle for loss on second-and-goal during State's defensive stand from the one-yard line in second quarter…At Georgia (11/21): Recorded 11 tackles, all solo stops, to lead the team. Broke up a career-high four passes, including back-to-back throws to the end zone in the fourth quarter. Helped hold Georgia to eight yards rushing, the fewest yards allowed by State in an SEC game since at least 2006. Led the team and ranked 15th in the country in coverage grade (86.8) during Week 12. Graded as State's top defender (87.7) and was second in tackling (84.8), according to Pro Football Focus….At Mississippi (11/28): Logged eight tackles and one pass breakup…Auburn (12/12): Posted four tackles - three solo…Missouri (12/19): Made seven tackles. Broke up one pass. Pressured the quarterback on a blitz, which led to Emmanuel Forbes' fourth-quarter interception that was returned for a touchdown.

PERSONAL – Attended Pine Forest (Pensacola, Fla.) HS under coach Jason McDonald….Played strictly wide receiver growing up until midway through high school when he switched to corner and played defense for the first time in his life…Three-star prospect by 247Sports, ESPN and Rivals…Totaled 149 tackles, eight pass breakups, one forced fumble and one interception over his final two seasons…Earned Pensacola News Journal All-Area honors as a junior and senior…As a senior, finished third on the team with 91 tackles. Added 2.0 stops for loss, four pass breakups, one interception, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries…Junior year was only full season playing DB. Totaled team-high 58 tackles and five pass breakups. Helped PFHS to the Florida High School Athletic Association 5A region quarterfinals…Has supported Everytown through the NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative and participated in several community activities throughout his first four years in the league. Raising awareness for ending gun violence is near and dear to his heart because he lost two childhood friends to it while he was in college…Born on Sept. 27, 2000 in Pensacola, Fla.