NFL Personnel Ranks Browns CB Denzel Ward Amongst top Cornerbacks

Cleveland Browns have a good one in cornerback Denzel Ward and those around the NFL agree.

Brandon Little | Jul 11, 2023

NFL Personnel Ranks Browns CB Denzel Ward Amongst top Cornerbacks /

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Cleveland Browns spent the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft on cornerback Denzel Ward and got themselves a top-10 cornerback. There is no one better to rank players around the NFL than the ones who are around the game the most. ESPN ran a poll among NFL coaches, players, executives, and scouts that voted on the top cornerbacks in the game.

The poll came out with the following results:

Pat Surtain II – Denver Broncos
Sauce Gardner – New York Jets
Jalen Ramsey – Miami Dolphins
Jaire Alexander – Green Bay Packers
Darius Slay – Philadelphia Eagles
Marlon Humphrey – Baltimore Ravens
Marshon Lattimore – New Orleans Saints
Trevon Diggs – Dallas Cowboys
Denzel Ward – Cleveland Browns
A.J. Terrell – Atlanta Falcons

Immediately, the most impressive thing is Sauce Gardner immediately being one of the best players at his position in the NFL as a rookie. That does not happen often but that’s exactly what he did.

For Ward, who comes in at spot No. 9, he’s been pretty consistent in terms of production over his first five seasons. At this point in his career, the former Buckeye is a two-time Pro Bowl recipient and has had at least two interceptions in each season. His career high is three interceptions, which he has recorded in three seasons total (2018, 2021, and 2022).

Last season, even if they fell into his lap, Ward added two touchdowns to bring his career total to four. So far in his career, Ward has struggled to complete an entire season. He has missed 16 games in total over his five-year career, as he’s struggled with soft tissue injuries. In 2022, Ward struggled a bit in coverage, as did the entire defense as a whole for the most part under then-defensive coordinator Joe Woods.

There’s a sense that Ward could bounce back in 2023 with an improved defense, a better pass rush, and a new defensive coordinator. He’s shown the ability to be a lockdown No. 1 cornerback and when he does it at a consistent level it does not get much better.

After the top 10 cornerbacks, five more were named honorable mention in the voting:

Xavien Howard (Miami Dolphins)
Jaycee Horn (Carolina Panthers)
Tariq Woolen (Seattle Seahawks)
Tre’Davious White (Buffalo Bills)
L’Jarius Sneed (Kansas City Chiefs)

The next few that received votes amongst the NFL were:

Stephon Gilmore – Dallas Cowboys
James Bradberry – Philadelphia Eagles
J.C. Jackson – Los Angeles Chargers
Carlton Davis – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trent McDuffie – Kansas City Chiefs
Charvarius Ward – San Francisco 49ers
D.J. Reed – New York Jets
Tyson Campbell – Jacksonville Jaguars

Cleveland has three good cornerbacks in Ward, Greg Newsome II, and Martin Emerson Jr. Don’t be surprised if the other two jump into these results, maybe even next year.

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