Cleveland Browns: How to manage future contracts

Fourth priority: Denzel Ward

Denzel Ward was the fourth overall pick in the 2018 draft. He was terrific on the field for Ohio State and allowed very few completions his last year in college. He had a terrific rookie season as he earned a Pro Bowl nod. His second year was not as productive, but a lot of that can certainly be blamed on his lingering hamstring injury which sidelined him for four games.

Ward is still a lockdown corner and can take away half of the football field. He often lines up on the defense’s left side, which takes away the right side of the field for opposing offenses. He is a true weapon to the Browns defense and has been quite valuable thus far.

With Ward’s contract expiring in 2023, he is another very crucial piece to the team that needs to be signed sooner rather than later. Cornerbacks can have relatively long careers in the NFL at a high level.

If he continues his success this year, he surely warrants an extension with the team because very talented corners are extremely hard to come by. It would be in Cleveland’s best interest to lock up the former Buckeye.

He would likely not be paid amongst the very few top corners in the league, but surely in the upper tier. He deserves it and much like defensive end, a great corner is worth a lot to a defense.