Cleveland Browns: John Dorsey’s 5 best player additions
By Peter Smith
The Cleveland Browns, headed by John Dorsey, have made a ton of moves to add players this season, but which have been the best? Let’s answer that question looking at the top five.
When John Dorsey took the job as general manager of the Cleveland Browns, he came in with a ton of assets at his disposal due to the work of the previous regime allowing him to add a ton of players. Between the sheer number of the acquisitions made and the impact they’ve made on the team, there’s plenty to discuss.
2018 became a tipping point in terms of cashing in on assets from the previous regime. Having two picks in the top four, six picks in the top 65 and a ton of cap room to use, the Browns had the ability to really put a stamp on their football team and the direction the team was going to go.
With so many additions and a lot of individual success even if the team isn’t quite there yet, it’s fun to consider which moves have been the best of the bunch. Here are the top five player additions that Dorsey has made this season.
5. Drafting Denzel Ward fourth overall
If the choice was between Denzel Ward or Bradley Chubb, the Browns couldn’t have gone wrong and it’s largely a matter of taste. Playing across from Von Miller with the Denver Broncos, Chubb has nine sacks in an outstanding rookie campaign. If he was a member of the Cleveland Browns and putting up that kind of production, no one would be upset.
The fact is, they did take Ward and he’s been phenomenal for the Browns, doing exactly what they hoped. He’s been a very good man cover corner in his rookie season at a position that is an incredibly difficult transition. It helped immensely that he had two interceptions in his debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers and teams have been forced to respect him.
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Combined with other additions to the secondary, the Browns defense took off with Ward in the lineup giving them far more balance on the front and back ends. Now, the Browns have legitimate playmakers on the defensive line, linebacker with Joe Schobert, and now the secondary with Ward.
For a player that was picked in no small part specifically to deal with Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ward was impressive even if he wasn’t perfect. The only worry with Ward is that he stays healthy given his small stature and, fortunately, while’s gone down twice this year with injuries that appeared scary at first blush, he hasn’t missed a game and his performance hasn’t tapered.
Ward, to this point, warrants Defensive Rookie of the Year consideration, but given that it’s the Browns and Anthony Henry didn’t win it in a year he had 10 interceptions, Ward likely won’t win the award. The team will just have to settle for the fact they have one of the more talented young corners in the league added to an up and coming defense.