Martin Emerson Jr. wasn't a part of the New Orleans Saints' first wave of free agency, but he'll be an interesting player to watch in training camp. The late signing gave the Saints secondary the protection they depth they needed and some additional starting potential just in case.
Bill Barnwell took on the interesting and challenging task of trying to make a team that could be competitive but only using backups. Emerson fits the mold for now, and he was the only selection from the Saints.
Emerson's injury before the season robbed him of a contract year and allowed for the Saints to snag the corner for $1.5 million, a fact Barnwell labeled as a "shrewd signing". "Emerson still has the upside to be our top cornerback if he's recovered from the injury," Barnwell wrote about his All-Backup team.
Martin Emerson could crack the Saints starting lineup
As strange of a list as an All-Backup team may seem, it’s a great representation of what Emerson could mean for the Saints. At best, he could be a starter, and at worst, he is really good depth in the secondary. Which outcome we see is as dependent on Quincy Riley as it is Emerson.Â
Riley is going into Year 2 on the back of a strong rookie campaign. His rookie season has earned him the right to be considered the starting cornerback opposite Kool-Aid McKinstry, but it hasn’t absolved Riley from competition nor has it granted him an infinite leash. It’s just made him the leader for the role.Â
Emerson has the talent to push Riley in camp. The Saints may not start off with a CB2 battle, but it could easily become one if Emerson plays to the standard we’ve seen from him in Cleveland or if Riley doesn’t have the strongest camp.Â
The pressure isn’t alleviated once camp ends. Riley will always have a starting caliber cornerback breathing down his neck. If injury happens, Emerson should be the next man up.Â
It could be all she wrote if Emerson finds himself in the starting lineup. If he outperforms Riley, the second year player’s hot start won’t save him from being replaced. Emerson’s ceiling in the past makes this a real possibility.Â
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