For several seasons, Cleveland Browns fans have had to endure their share of disappointment and inconsistency when supporting their football team. Being a Browns fan is and always has been a labor of love.
Things seem to be looking up, though, as Cleveland has drafted very well of late and recently extended one of its most beloved players — cornerback Denzel Ward.
"I'm a Cleveland kid through and through," Ward said during a recent media availability, "and this is where I'm at, and this is where I want to be."
That one sentence is music to the ears of every Browns fan.
After there appeared to be a lot of chatter about Denzel Ward possibly being another asset for the Browns to consider moving following the Myles Garrett trade, he agreed to terms on a record two-year, $62.2 million extension to stay in Cleveland. The deal included $52.3 million in new guarantees, with $23.1 million in cash to come this season, per Over The Cap. Ward’s reported deal is structured to be backloaded, and there’s actually a team-friendly aspect to it.
It was encouraging to see that Ward is likely set to stick around for the long haul, given his on-field worth, overall buy-in, and his love for the City of Cleveland.
Denzel Ward continues to give the Cleveland Browns something that can't be measured in statistics or Pro Bowls
Ward has been a standout in his Browns tenure and has firmly established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks. The five-time Pro Bowler has regularly led by example over the course of his time with Cleveland, and despite the Browns likely taking their lumps this season due to their young roster, it’s great to have Ward still around.
Even with Cleveland’s overall struggles last season, the Browns' defense typically was playing up to standard, and Ward’s play was largely solid.
He had nine pass breakups, an interception, and opponents completed 61.3 percent of their throws in his direction, which was a respectable mark, especially given what he’s tasked to do. Another thing to keep in mind is that given Ward's skill set at the catch point and speed, he's often made opponents hesitant throwing outside the numbers in his direction, and he can drive on in-breaking routes.
Through his NFL career, Ward has tallied 18 interceptions and 104 passes defensed, to go with four forced fumbles. He's been one of the top Browns players for a while.
Granted, with the Browns seemingly retooling and clearly prioritizing getting young players valuable snaps for their development, it was understandable for some to speculate on whether Ward could be a potential trade candidate prior to his extension. That talk will likely subside, at least for a while.
As Ward's comments demonstrated, he’s always had tons of appreciation for Cleveland and the Browns fan base. Ward went to Nordonia High School in Macedonia in the Cleveland area, and he knows full well what wearing the Orange and Brown means to the community. He of course also made his share of plays as an Ohio State Buckeye.
Moreover, the 29-year-old Ward has continually been a player who has understood that Cleveland loves its football, and he has always fully embraced the city and its fans with his infectious smile and exemplary attitude. There has been plenty of gray skies hovering over the team over the course of Ward's eight seasons with the Browns since he was drafted in 2018, and he's had some injuries at times, but nobody would ever question his body language or buy-in.
Perhaps more than anything, being from Cleveland, Ward clearly understands what the Browns mean to the area and to countless diehard fans near and far. It's nice that he's set to be around in years ahead as a speedy, steady cover corner and as a leadership presence on and off the field.
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