2022 NFL Draft: Three players KC Chiefs shouldn’t have passed on
By Jacob Milham
CB Martin Emerson
Selected by Cleveland Browns at 68th overall
Veach broke a draft mold by selecting cornerback Trent McDuffie at 21st overall. That is the highest pick the Cheifs have used on a cornerback since Marcus Peters in 2015, despite the position being a perennial need. If Veach would have selected cornerback Martin Emerson at 62nd overall, Chiefs social media would have broken.
Emerson has several physical traits the Chiefs look for in their outside corners. Standing at 6’1″ and weighing in at 201 lbs., Emerson is built to battle against bigger NFL wide receivers. He has very long arms, measuring at 33 1/2″ each. Both his weight and length help jam smaller receivers at the line of scrimmage, influencing the play from the snap.
Emerson does not have top-end speed, evident by his 4.51 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine. He still earned a 8.50 Relative Athletic Score, with good marks in his agility drills. Emerson does not have ideal speed, but slower cornerbacks, such as Richard Sherman, have seen elite success recently.
Emerson was commonly linked to Kansas City, as he would be available outside the top-50 picks and had the physical tools the team covets. He is not a sure-fire prospect, but the Chiefs lament passing on him if he can develop into a top starter for the Cleveland Browns.