Until Harold Fannin came along last year, cornerback Martin Emerson probably was the best third-round draft pick in GM Andrew Berry's seven drafts. He likely won't return in 2026.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from opening of Browns offseason conditioning program …
The Browns signed another backup cornerback on Monday in a move that probably means the end of Martin (M.J.) Emerson in Cleveland.
The new cornerback is Myles Bryant, a seven-year veteran most recently with the Houston Texans.
Bryant, 28, was an undrafted free agent signed by the New England Patriots in 2020. He joined the Texans in 2024 and appeared in 22 games the past two seasons, mostly on special teams, with three starts at cornerback last year. Bryant, 5-9 and 192 pounds, has four interceptions in 77 career games.
Coincidentally, Emerson made a free agent visit to Houston on Monday.
The strapping Emerson, 6-2 and 201, was a rare third-round gem of the Andrew Berry era. Taken in the third round in 2022, Emerson made 33 starts in his first three seasons and led the Browns with four interceptions in 2023.
Emerson missed all of 2025 after an Achilles tendon tear in training camp in August. It was especially tough for him because he was entering the last year of his rookie contract.
In his absence, the Browns traded for cornerback Tyson Campbell, who proved an instant upgrade over Greg Newsome, who moved to Jacksonville in the one-for-one swap, in the starting spot opposite Denzel Ward.
At NFL owners meetings last week, Berry indicated that Emerson was looking to compete for a starting spot in free agency and he would not have that opportunity with the Browns.
“Love M.J. … Absolutely love M.J.,” Berry said. “Both as a person and as a player. Selfishly, would love to have him back. I think we're also realistic that with M.J. and the injury that he's coming off of, to reach his personal goals, he's also got to be in a position where he has maybe a strong opportunity to compete for a starting spot. That's probably a little bit harder with how we're configured with Denzel and Tyson.”
Previous to Bryant, the Browns signed backup cornerbacks D’Angelo Ross and Tre Avery. They also have Dom Jones on their roster behind starters Ward and Campbell.
In other roster news, the Browns signed six exclusive rights free agents (less than three years NFL experience) previously tendered contracts. They are tight end Brenden Bates, receiver Malachi Corley, linebacker Winston Reid, long snapper Rex Sunahara, kicker Andre Szmyt and receiver Jamari Thrash.
Happy opening day
The Todd Monken era officially kicks off on Tuesday with the start of the 2026 voluntary offseason conditioning program.
Teams with new coaches are allowed to open their programs two weeks early and are also given an extra voluntary minicamp.
Monken’s minicamp will be held April 21-23. There will be a mandatory minicamp June 9-11.
The offseason program is broken down into three phases.
Phase One consists of two weeks of meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation.
Phase Two consists of three weeks of on-field individual and position drills but no offense v. defense work.
Phase Three consists of four weeks of a total of 10 OTA practices involving offense v. defense in 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.
Monken’s quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will kick off with the voluntary program. But the team does not expect defensive end Myles Garrett to attend. Garrett has not been a frequent attendee in recent years.
Garrett has not made any public comments since the team changed coaches and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned. Garrett has been the subject of trade speculation after the Browns modified his contract in part to ease the ability to trade him.
At NFL meetings, owner Jimmy Haslam said Garrett was “absolutely” committed to the organization despite asking to be traded to a contender a year ago.
“We spent a lot of time with Myles the day after the season,” Haslam said. “We had a great conversation about the offseason, the direction of the team, what we were looking for, etc. And [Berry] talks to Myles regularly. So I doubt Myles is there on April 7th, OK? But Myles hasn't shown the need to be there and we have a new defensive coordinator, but we're basically going to run the same defense.So I think Myles will be ready to go.”
Berry said, “It's a voluntary program. So, I'd imagine he'd do his same schedule, that type of thing.”
And the winner is …
Who’s the most popular mock draft choice for the Browns with the sixth overall pick in the first round?
According to Pro Football Sports Network’s draft simulator, it’s Ohio State receiver Carnell Tate. Tate’s gotten the call 12% of the time on the PFSN simulator.
Next is Georgia offensive tackle Monroe Freeling (11.1%).
Counting simulated projections for the Browns’ second pick at No. 24, the rest of the field includes Indiana receiver Omar Cooper (8.0%), Miami offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa (7.5%), Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor (6.8%), Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu (6.4%), Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano (5.2%), Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller (4.5%), Washington receiver Denzel Boston (4.4%), and Texas A&M receiver KC Concepcion (4.2%).