The Saints signed cornerback Martin Emerson as a free agent this week and Emerson should be ready to hit the ground running for his new team.
Emerson tore his Achilles while at training camp with the Browns last summer and missed the entire season. Emerson told reporters at a Thursday press conference that he has been fully cleared to return to physical activity and should be practicing without restrictions at training camp this summer.
Emerson was a Browns third-round pick in 2022 and he spent most of his time in Cleveland as a starter. He had 80 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while playing in every game in 2024.
Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, Isaac Yiadom, Rezjohn Wright, and seventh-round pick TJ Hall are also on the cornerback depth chart in New Orleans.
The Saints have announced the signings of cornerback Martin Emerson and linebacker Anfernee Jennings.
Emerson visited with the team on Tuesday and NFL reporter Josina Anderson reported on an agreement before the Saints officially announced the move. The team’s plan to Jennings was reported over the weekend.
Emerson missed last season with a torn Achilles. The 2022 third-round pick had 204 tackles, four interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 51 games for the Browns.
Jennings had 233 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 79 appearances for the Patriots. He entered the league as a 2020 third-rounder.
Trade chatter swirled around Kayvon Thibodeaux leading up to and during the draft, but no deal came together and the edge rusher remains with the Giants.
The in-draft chatter came ahead of the second round last Friday when there was a report that the Giants and Saints had discussed a deal. Giants General Manager Joe Schoen said that the team had “not had any conversations” about trading Thibodeaux that day, but another report indicates that there were some conversations.
Dan Duggan of TheAthletic.com reports that the Giants were looking for a second-round pick in return for moving Thibodeaux while the Saints’ best offer was believed to be a fourth-rounder. New Orleans ultimately traded a fifth-round pick to the Raiders for Tyree Wilson in order to address their desire for help on the edge.
The Giants took Arvell Reese with the fifth overall pick and they’ve faced questions about how they’ll line up on defense with Reese, Thibodeaux, Brian Burns and Abdul Carter all on the roster. With Thibodeaux staying put, that will be something for the team to work out over the coming months.
The Saints are meeting with a potential addition to their secondary on Tuesday.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that free agent cornerback Martin Emerson is visiting the team.
Emerson was a 2022 third-round pick by the Browns and he missed the 2025 season after tearing his Achilles during training camp. He started 34 of the 51 regular season and playoff games he played while in Cleveland.
Emerson had 204 tackles, four interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in that action.
The Saints drafted defensive backs Lorenzo Styles and TJ Hall. Kool-Aid McKinstry, Quincy Riley, and Isaac Yiadom are their top returning corners.
The Saints made space for rookie additions to the roster by parting ways with three veteran players on Monday.
In addition to the previously reported cut of wide receiver Samori Toure, the Saints also announced that they have waived running back Evan Hull and wide receiver Elijah Cooks.
Hull ran 19 times for 48 yards and caught one pass for six yards in six appearances last season. The Saints now have Travis Etienne, Alvin Kamara, Ty Chandler, Devin Neal, Kendre Miller, Audric Estime, and CJ Donaldson in their backfield.
Cooks spent time on the practice squad in New Orleans last season. He had three catches for 38 yards in 11 games for the Jaguars in 2023 and 2024.
The Saints drafted Jordyn Tyson with the eighth overall pick and added Bryce Lance and Barion Brown to the receiver group later in the draft.
