S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (4.24.26)
Hey, Emmanuel, congratulations. Just wanted to ask, how early in the pre-draft process could you really tell the Browns were interested in you? And over the course of this evening, did they kind of hint that, hey, hang in there, we’re looking to come up for you?
“Ever since the beginning of the combine, I feel like the Browns, they love me. They’ve been supporting me. They’ve been just telling me how good a player I am, and as a person too. So I had a feeling it would be somewhere with the Cleveland Browns. So I feel like going up there to on a visit too. It felt like home, like family, all the coaches were cool, everything. So I feel like it was just a blessing for them just to be on the same team back in Ohio with them.”
Hey, Emmanuel, watching the broadcast when you were selected, I mean, it seemed like you obviously got pretty emotional. Just what was that moment like? Especially after that wait.
“Just, high but, fall a little bit short. I was just thankful for God. God got me in position just to be in this position to nobody else to be in this. So I’m just thankful of him and just all the hard work and dedication that I’ve been putting through, even when I got hurt my senior year, my junior year, just all the hard work coming back on that field, with my brothers, just being happy to be out there again, just hearing my name called.”
Emanuel, when Cat Hickman listed your attributes, she mentioned physicality, versatility, and ball hawking. Of those three, what would you say is your number one attribute?
“I say I’m all three. So I say anywhere I’m a playmaker. So just being all three, I’m a playmaker. I’m just gonna go to that ball. Whatever I see the ball at, I’m gonna go to that ball. So being able to do that at Cleveland Browns to just help us win.”
Congratulations, Emmanuel. I guess off of that, given your skill set, where do you think you maybe fit or can have the most success in the Browns defense based on what you kind of know in terms of what, like role you could play?
“I feel like impacting the game anywhere. If that is defense, special teams, anywhere on the field, the deep end, in the box. I feel like anywhere just to help the team out, just to get turnovers and make plays for the defense.”
Hey, Emmanuel, Cat Hickman talked about how she was impressed with your loyalty to Toledo. Why was it so important for you to finish your career there when I’m sure you had other options?
“Toledo, they stayed true to me. They developed me as a player. Other schools, they fell off me during high school. Toledo, they stayed right there for me. So I feel like, why switch up on them? They never switch over me. I built a brotherhood and a bond there, and the coaches, that was like family to me. So I just wanted to build a legacy, seeing one of my ex-teammates come out of Toledo, so I feel like I could do the same thing.”
So Emmanuel, did you have offers from like Power 4 conference schools?
“Yes, sir. Coming in, I had Toledo, my first offer. I started getting like Miami, Indiana, Maryland, stuff like that. Then my late high school career, I got hurt and they stopped texting me. But Toledo, they stayed true to me. They never gave up for me. So I feel like I own it to Toledo.”
Emmanuel, the Browns normally don’t trade up to get a player. So what does it mean to you? What does it say to you that they actually climbed up to get you?
“Man, it means everything. Like I’m gonna give all I got. Ever since I stepped on that facility again, I feel like that’s my home. So we gonna put in that work and try to win, get that Super Bowl. I appreciate them for giving me a chance and not giving up on me.”
Emmanuel, what’s it going to be like playing with some studs on the defensive side of the ball in Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward?
“Man, it’s going to be good. Playing with Denzel, Grant Delpit all them boys, just learning from them boys and just trying to get better and grow, man, it’ll be a blessing, man. A lot of hands to the ball. That’s what I’m going to say. A lot of hands on fire to the ball. Most definitely.”
What were your matchups like with Harold Fannin Jr. and did you get to see what kind of impact he had last year as a rookie?
“Man, that matchup, man, I love that matchup. Hey, I’m going to have to talk to him when I get there and just practice going against him, knowing he a great tight end, great player. That’s how you grow and get better. This is great. So being down there with him, going against him again, it’ll be a blessing.”
Hey, Emmanuel, you mentioned Grant Delpit, but just what do you like about his game and how do you think you guys can complement one another?
“He’s an enforcing. He’s a playmaker. I feel like I’ve been watching him ever since he was at LSU freshman year. So to watch him now, and now being next to him, playing with him, it’ll be a dream come true. I got to show him how to do it, too. We’re going to be able to turn heads.”
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