When the Cleveland Browns were on the clock at pick 39, they had a tough decision to make. They could either double down at wide receiver by selecting Denzel Boston, or they could secure the future of their secondary with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, the heir apparent to Grant Delpit.
They chose Boston, addressing their biggest need at the time. It seemed like their chance at McNeil-Warren had slipped away for good. The clock kept ticking, and the Browns were up again at pick 70, not even thinking about the talented safety from Toledo.
But then the wheels started turning. Cleveland had some new draft capital to work with, and they began making phone calls. They found a willing partner in the San Francisco 49ers, who held pick 58. As pick 57 came and went, McNeil-Warren was still on the board. Cleveland submitted the trade, moving up to grab the third-best safety in the entire draft—a player who carried a first-round grade from just about every mock drafter out there.
McNeil-Warren is an impressive physical specimen. Standing at 6'4" and weighing just north of 200 pounds, he has the ideal frame for a modern NFL safety. During his college career at Toledo, he had opportunities to leave the MAC for powerhouse programs like Alabama. But he stayed loyal to the program that took a chance on him, and that loyalty paid off with a second-round selection in the NFL.
On Saturday, when asked who he models his game after, McNeil-Warren's answer was nothing short of incredible. He listed three current NFL stars: Derwin James of the Chargers, Kyle Hamilton of the Ravens, and Nick Emmanwori—all players he watches and studies closely. He emphasized that a safety needs to be the quarterback of the defense, a mindset that makes him so valuable.
What's remarkable about his three choices is that they all share a common trait: the ability to cover pass catchers like a shutdown corner while also delivering the punishing hits of a traditional safety. For a rookie looking to make his mark in the NFL, that's a blueprint worth following.