Kool-Aid McKinstry and Quincy Riley have the New Orleans Saints comfortable at starting cornerback, but not enough is made about the lack of depth in the room. It's something we asked for the Saints to address earlier on Day 3 than the seventh round. It appears they're going the veteran route like they did with edge rusher. The Saints brought Martin Emerson Jr. in for a visit Tuesday and signed him the next day, per Ian Rapoport.
Emerson didn't play a snap in 2025 due to a torn achilles he suffered in July of last year. Based off the timeline of many achilles recoveries, Emerson should be ready to practice for training camp.
The injury will naturally scare some people off, understandably so. However, it's not going to force him to miss any additional time because it was so early last year. Also, Emerson isn't coming in to be a starter. The role he's playing should also impact how this is viewed.
Saints' cornerback depth is one misstep away from cracking
They say you can never have too many good corners. In that sense, there's value in bringing Emerson in for a visit. The Saints aren't making this move from a place of luxury, however. The Saints need to sign a cornerback to help the depth in the room.
McKinstry and Riley are manning up the boundary spot, and Isaac Yiadom is the only reliable player behind the duo. 7th round pick T.J. Hall figures to be a special teams player but still factors into the room. Yiadom has proven to be solid in spot duty before, but you'd like to see more than just three cornerbacks. Four is a good number, as it protects you from multiple injuries.
Emerson is a really good choice because he does have NFL experience and success at the level. In his first two years in the league, he had 29 pass breakups and four interceptions. Though his numbers took a step back in 2024, the Saints are getting a solid player in Emerson that will likely be depth but has a starting level quality of play. If either of the starters had to leave the game, Emerson is a player you trust to step in and deliver quality play.