NFL Draft Grades 2018: Cleveland Browns select Denzel Ward at No. 4
The Cleveland Browns added to their defense with the fourth overall pick, and to do so, they only had to look a couple hours away at Denzel Ward.
The fourth overall selection made by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft saw them improve their defensive backfield with the selection of cornerback Denzel Ward from the Ohio State Buckeyes. Ward is a player who some didn’t think would be a top-five pick, as the Browns passed on other defensive standouts such as Bradley Chubb (defensive end).
Many believe Ward is the best overall defensive back in the draft, and the Browns adding any player who is the best at anything in this draft is an upgrade to their roster from a team that went 0-16 overall.
One plus about Ward is he comes from a winning collegiate program in Ohio State, and he is used to winning, so maybe he’ll help the Browns gain that same type of mentality with the help of their No. 1 overall pick in quarterback Baker Mayfield and last year’s first overall pick defensive end Myles Garrett.
In Ward, the Browns not only get the “Ohio Guy,” but they get a player who has great speed and can play with a physical presence, and he should most likely start day one. Like in college, Ward will be asked to make life tough for the opposing wide receivers, especially those in the AFC North.
The Browns’ cornerback depth chart other than Ward also includes Briean Boddy-Calhoun and Jamar Taylor, so adding Ward was a great need for Cleveland as those players don’t jump off the page.
Looking closer at Cleveland’s defense last season, they were last in the NFL in allowing 25.6 points per game, 14th in the NFL in yards allowed per game (328.1), 19th in passing yards allowed (230.2), seventh in rushing yards allowed (97.9) and Cleveland totaled seven interceptions as a team in 2017.
In three seasons at Ohio State, Ward totaled two interceptions, both of those coming last season, but he also totaled 67 career tackles and had 24 passes defensed, including 15 last season.
Next: NFL Draft 2018: Instant grades from Round 1
Ward is a nice pick here, but it is still tough to pass on the likes of Chubb at fourth overall as he and Garrett could have been one heck of a combo threat for the Browns.
Cleveland could have moved back a spot or two and still most likely could have made this same selection in Ward, but the Browns should have a player who will be a solid starter for them and can make a difference on their defense this upcoming season.
Grade: B-