Browns rookie CB Ward off to impressive start
Denzel Ward gets things done quickly.
One of the rookie cornerback’s first goals was to earn a starting job. Check. Next was paying off the mortgage on his mom’s house. Check. Then it was signing his NFL contract and reporting to training camp on time. Done.
Now he wants to help the Browns win. OK, that may take a minute.
But to this point, nothing has slowed the speedy Ward, who has impressed his teammates and Cleveland’s coaches. After an eye-popping spring camp, the former Ohio State AllAmerican has joined the first-team defense, and the Browns believe the 21-yearold is ready for the weekly challenge of covering elite wide receivers. Ward’s up for it. “I’m very comfortable in who I am as a player,” he said Friday without the slightest trace of arrogance. “I’m a fast player.”
While Baker Mayfield, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback selected first overall by the Browns, waits his turn behind Tyrod Taylor, Ward’s already on the field.
And there’s no reason to think he won’t stay there.
Ward stood out during the Browns’ first training camp practice on Thursday with several solid plays. He made a leaping interception down the sideline in front of three-time Pro Bowler Jarvis Landry during 11-on11 drills, and Ward looked comfortable whether in goal-line situations or thirdand-longs.
He did get beat on a go route by fellow rookie Antonio Callaway, who made a late adjustment to haul in a deep pass from Mayfield.
The catch drew applause from Browns fans, but Ward said the reception probably wouldn’t have counted in a game.
“I think he stepped out of bounds,” Ward said, smiling. “They caught it with the camera from over here, so they didn’t really see it, but that was a great catch. He can definitely run.”
So can Ward, whose quickness and ability to play manto-man “press” coverage is what made him so appealing to the Browns, who surprised many draft experts by taking him so high after he was projected to be picked later in the first round.
His high profile notwithstanding, Ward has shown a willingness to work and improve since the day he arrived.
“He’s pretty quiet off the field,” said linebacker Christian Kirksey. “He’s not a person that is going to sit there and just talk all day. He’s going to do his job. He’s going to do it to the best of his ability. He’s very coachable. I believe that once he really gets comfortable with his role of being a lockdown corner, I think that the sky’s the limit for him.”
Ward has immersed himself in Cleveland’s playbook, and beyond watching daily practice film, he’s been taking a peek at tape of some future opponents.
The Browns open the season on Sept. 9 against Pittsburgh, which means Ward will make his regular-season debut against Steelers star Antonio Brown, widely considered the league’s best all-around receiver.
It’s helped Ward to prepare for Brown that he’s been going head-to-head with Landry and Josh Gordon, who is currently away from the team to address health problems.
Ward said he’s not intimidated by any matchup.
“Those guys are elite players, great guys and players,” Ward said. “But we all put our shoes and pants on the same way, and just come out here and work.”
Ward was the final member of Cleveland’s rookie class to sign, finalizing his four-year, $29 million contract on Wednesday a day before players reported.