4 Cleveland Browns who should make their first All-Pro team in 2021
By Greg Newland
No. 2 – Denzel Ward
Let’s be honest, Denzel Ward has performed at an All-Pro level since being drafted, his only issue is staying on the field. The fourth overall pick in 2018 has missed four games each of his three seasons, and it feels like a lot of his games played have come while being banged up.
Ward thrives in zone coverage. He has the speed and vision to bait a quarterback, but he is also not afraid to man up with the best receivers in the game. At times his 5-foot-11 stature can be his biggest weakness, but he has made an instant impact on this defense.
Look for Ward to also benefit from a dominant pass-rush in 2021. With quarterbacks making decisions even a half-second faster, it makes a defensive backs job that much easier. Ward can play much tighter coverage because he knows the quarterback won’t have enough time to throw the deep ball if he would happen to get beat.
If Ward can stay healthy all season, he should be a shoo-in for All-Pro. Cornerback is a tough position to break through because there is so much talent in the NFL, but Ward is that good. The Cleveland Browns defense going from one of the worst to one of the best in one year will also be a huge factor helping him edge out the competition.