BEREA, Ohio -- The quickest way to get on Todd Monken's good side is to have a natural love of football. The Cleveland Browns head coach has lived and breathed the game since he was a kid, and he can spot a kindred spirit from across the practice field. So when Monken walked away from rookie minicamp last weekend with a specific second-round pick on his mind, it was worth paying attention.
That player is safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, the Browns' second-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. And according to Monken, the first impression McNeil-Warren left was about as good as it gets.
"The sky's the limit for that kid," Monken said after the minicamp session, via Cleveland.com. "You can tell he just loves football. He's got instincts you can't coach. He's going to be a really good player for us."
For a franchise that has spent the past few years rebuilding its secondary into one of the NFL's most formidable units, those words carry weight. The Browns already boast a cornerback room headlined by Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell, with Myles Bryant, Myles Harden, and Dom Jones providing quality depth. At safety, Grant Delpit anchors the backend alongside veterans like Ronnie Hickman, Daniel Thomas, and Christopher Edmonds. But adding a player of McNeil-Warren's pedigree -- and early praise from the head coach -- suggests the Browns may have found a long-term difference-maker.
A natural feel for the game
What stood out to Monken wasn't just McNeil-Warren's athleticism -- though that's certainly impressive. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound safety ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and posted a 38-inch vertical jump, numbers that placed him among the top safety prospects in this year's class. But Monken has seen plenty of fast, explosive athletes come through NFL camps. What separates the ones who succeed from the ones who don't is something far less tangible: football IQ.
"He just has a natural feel for the game," Monken said. "He's always in the right spot. He communicates well. He's got that sixth sense that you can't teach. That's the stuff that gets me excited."
McNeil-Warren's college tape backed that up. Playing in a Power Five conference, he racked up 95 tackles, three interceptions, and seven pass breakups in his final season. Scouts praised his ability to read quarterbacks' eyes, his willingness to step into the box and support the run, and his range in deep coverage. But what really popped on film was his reaction time -- the split-second decisions that separate a good safety from a Pro Bowl-caliber one.
"He sees it before it happens," one AFC scout said during the pre-draft process. "He doesn't just react to the play; he anticipates it. That's rare."
Fitting into the Browns' defensive scheme
The Browns' defensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg, has built a versatile, aggressive scheme that asks its safeties to do a little bit of everything. Delpit is the eraser, cleaning up mistakes and providing help over the top. Hickman is the enforcer, a tone-setter against the run. McNeil-Warren, with his blend of size, speed, and instincts, profiles as a hybrid piece who can play deep, roll down into the box, or even match up with tight ends in man coverage.
"That's the beauty of our defense," Monken said. "We can move guys around. We can put them in positions to succeed. And Emmanuel is the kind of player who can handle that responsibility."
McNeil-Warren's versatility was a major selling point for the Browns' front office. General manager Andrew Berry has long prioritized players who can wear multiple hats, especially in the secondary. With the NFL evolving into a matchup-driven league where offenses spread defenses out with three- and four-receiver sets, having safeties who can cover ground, tackle in space, and process information quickly is non-negotiable.
"He's going to be a really good player for us," Monken reiterated. "I'm excited to see him grow."
A long-term building block
While it's early -- rookie minicamp is a glorified orientation more than a true evaluation -- Monken's enthusiasm is noteworthy. He's not the type to hand out empty praise. When he says "the sky's the limit," he means it.
For McNeil-Warren, the path to playing time is clear. Delpit is the entrenched starter, but the safety rotation is deep, and injuries are always a factor. If McNeil-Warren continues to impress in training camp and preseason action, he could carve out a significant role as a rookie. At the very least, he projects as a core special teams contributor and a developmental piece who could become a starter by Year 2.
"I'm just trying to soak everything in," McNeil-Warren said after the minicamp session. "Coach Monken, the coaching staff, the veterans -- they've all been great. I know I've got a lot to learn, but I'm ready to work."
That attitude is exactly what Monken wants to hear. In a league where talent alone isn't enough, the players who combine skill with an obsessive love for the game are the ones who stick. Monken saw that in McNeil-Warren. And if the head coach is right, the Browns may have found a steal in the second round.
More to come
Of course, rookie minicamp is just the first step. The real evaluation begins when the pads come on and the veterans return for training camp. But for a franchise that has playoff aspirations and a defense that is already among the league's best, adding a player like McNeil-Warren -- one who passes the "football love" test from the head coach -- is a promising development.
The Browns' secondary, already one of the deepest in the NFL, just got a little deeper. And as Monken put it, the sky's the limit.
Stay tuned, Browns fans. This one could be special.