Saints signing CB Martin Emerson Jr.

TL;DR

The New Orleans Saints are signing cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. after his visit to the team. Emerson, a former Cleveland Browns player, is recovering from a season-ending ACL injury but has shown potential as a quality starter.

Key points

New Orleans Saints signing cornerback Martin Emerson Jr.
Emerson previously played for the Cleveland Browns.
He suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2024.
Emerson has logged 34 pass deflections and 4 interceptions.
The signing aims to bolster the Saints' secondary depth.

New Orleans SaintsCleveland Browns

CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 03: Martin Emerson Jr. #23 of the Cleveland Browns yells while running onto the field prior to a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Huntington Bank Field on November 03, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) | Getty Images The New Orleans Saints are signing cornerback Martin Emerson Jr, per Ian Rapoport. The signing comes after Emerson made a visit to New Orleans on Tuesday. New Orleans was expected to fill their need to add to the secondary in the draft, but the board didn’t fall that way early on. While they did add Iowa defensive back TJ Hall in the seventh round, it’s clear they would need to keep adding. Emerson is an intriguing signing for the Saints. He started 33 games through his first three seasons, including becoming a full-time starter from 2023-2024. The former Cleveland Browns cornerback was becoming a quality starter, but suffered a season-ending ACL tear late in 2024 that kept him out all of 2025. Appearing in 50 games in his young career, Emerson has logged 34 pass deflections, 202 tackles, and 4 interceptions, all of which came in 2024.

New Orleans signing of Emerson is a similar signing to their addition of from the last offseason: taking a shot on a productive young player coming off a major injury. Blackmon, unfortunately, suffered a season-ending injury in the team’s Week 1 loss in 2025, but the Saints liked him enough to bring him back for 2026. all solidified his spot as CB1 for New Orleans, but after him, there are plenty of questions. is still unproven, and it’s still a question of who will play the slot. The signing of Emerson at worst gives New Orleans solid depth, but he’ll likely find his way as a starter pending the progress of his recovery.

Q&A

What are Martin Emerson Jr.'s career stats in the NFL?

Martin Emerson Jr. has appeared in 50 games, recording 34 pass deflections, 202 tackles, and 4 interceptions, all of which occurred in 2024.

Why did the Saints sign Martin Emerson Jr.?

The Saints signed Martin Emerson Jr. to strengthen their secondary after initially planning to address this need in the draft, and to add depth following his recovery from a major injury.

What injury did Martin Emerson Jr. suffer in 2024?

Martin Emerson Jr. suffered a season-ending ACL tear late in the 2024 season, which kept him out for the entire 2025 season.