Cleveland Browns: 5 players vital to 2018 success

2 of 5

ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: Denzel Ward of Ohio State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #4 overall by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

4. Denzel Ward, CB

There were a couple ways the Browns could have gone with the No. 4 overall pick and they absolutely made the right call. There were plenty of people who felt they should have gone with North Carolina State defensive end Bradley Chubb.

That would have been a good pick because pairing Chubb with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Myles Garrett, would have given them a monstrous pair of edge rushers. The only issue there is they could already have such a pairing.

In 2016, they used the first pick in the second round on Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah and he’s got a lot of upside. He and Garrett haven’t had a ton of time together due to injuries, but when they were together it was great.

Because of that, the Browns went a different direction. They selected Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward instead and he fills a much bigger need. After trading away Jason McCourty, the Browns needed a solid starter and Ward has the makings of a potential shut down corner.

He should be a day one starter opposite E.J. Gaines — one of their many solid offseason acquisitions — and because he’s in his first year, he will be tested early and often.

The Browns will depend heavily on Ward to rise to the challenge and handle his man. He’s got the skill to do it, he will just have to prove it.

Home/Browns News