There is a saying in the NFL: You can never have too many great cornerbacks.
The Cleveland Browns have Denzel Ward, Tyson Campbell, and Myles Harden at cornerback. Are they good there? Do they need another guy? Is M.J. Emerson going to return? Will GM Andrew Berry re-sign Emerson or allow him to walk in free agency? And if he comes back, what will his talents be like after a horrible Achilles injury? Can he still cut and have his speed?
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The Browns have several free agents who could be re-signed before the March free agency period begins. Emerson is one of those in the cornerback room. So are Anthony Kendall, D’Angelo Ross, Sam Webb, and Tre Avery. Webb is a restricted free agent.
There are plenty of very good corners in all rounds of the April NFL draft. Perhaps the team will supply the roster with a capable player in that position. Then again, maybe Berry can sign a veteran to help solve the room.
The defensive back room is the pet project of Berry since he was a college cornerback himself. Improving the room and keeping legitimate key defenders is important to him. Notice how he shipped off the former first-round draft pick Greg Newsome, who was a roller coaster in coverage, and in return got a tackling machine with the physical Campbell.
Trevon Diggs is a very seasoned cornerback who has had several exceptional seasons that Berry could look at bringing in. He would step into Emerson’s vacant spot-on Day 1.
This past NFL season, the Browns ranked #4 in the league in defense. Break that down into the #3 passing defense and the #16 rushing defense.
Diggs only played two games last year after coming off knee surgery that lingered. He had 11 interceptions in 2021 and has been named to two Pro Bowls. At one time, he was making $19 a year. But his lack of playing time recently has dropped his production.
Perhaps he is a reclamation project. He once had the skills and is still a young man. He’s worth a shot for a team that doesn’t have to rely on him as an every-down corner. Obviously, a lot of medical information would have to come into play before bringing Diggs in. Can he regain his old form on the cheap? If so, the Browns just might have secured a home run player.
Trevon Diggs
Green Bay Packers
PFF ranking: 59.8
NFL draft: 2020 Round 2, pick #51 (Cowboys)
Accolades: First Team All-SEC (2019), National Champion (2017), Third Team All-American (2019), First Team All-Pro (2021), Pro Bowl (2021, 2022)
2025 season: 2 starts, 2 tackles, 0 QB hits, 0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 batted passes, 0 pressures, 0 hurries, 0 knockdowns, 0 tackles for loss, 0 forced fumbles, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 batted passes, 0 missed tackles, 2 receptions allowed, 33 defensive snaps, 2 special teams snaps
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Diggs was once considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league when he was with the Dallas Cowboys for his first three seasons. During these years, he had decent tackling numbers and started almost every game. His interception numbers were 3, 11, and 3.
In 2023, Dallas inked him to a five-year, $97 million deal. In mid-September, after getting that behemoth contract, he tore the ACL in his left knee and was added to IR. He played in the season opener the following season, but sustained a groin injury and then underwent surgery to repair a knee injury in the same leg as his ACL tear the prior year.
In 2025, Diggs had lingering concussion issues and missed almost the entire season. He was activated in December. At the end of that month, the Cowboys released him. The Packers claimed him and signed him to a one-year deal, but then did not re-sign him, so he is out there available.
He is good on kickoff teams as well, so he comes with special teams value.
He was paid $7.5 million on a one-year deal with the Packers, but had almost no stats in the two games he appeared in.