DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum No. 4 pick Denzel Ward signs his Browns rookie contract worth about $29.4 million

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Denzel Ward, who hopes to fill Joe Haden's Pro Bowl shoes here, signed his four-year rookie contract worth about $29,439,365.

It includes a signing bonus worth $19,490,448 and the Browns have an option for a fifth year.

Ward, drafted with the No. 4 overall pick that came in a trade with the Texans, will take over as the Browns' shutdown corner, drawing the top receivers every week such as Antonio Brown, A.J. Green, Michael Thomas, DeAndre Hopkins and Julio Jones.

After elevating Ward to first-team defense in the final week of OTAs, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams raved about the Macedonia, Ohio native and Ohio State product.

"He fits in ability-wise,'' said Williams. "He has covered some awfully good guys. He has had a chance to play at a very high level in college. Both he and Myles (Garrett) - have fit into the locker room faster than most rookies that I have had the chance to draft. I do not move them up the depth chart without the understanding of how they are fitting in with the other veterans that play on the field.''

He made the decision with some significant input.

"When a veteran comes to me and says, 'Hey coach, we are better when Denzel is on out there.' 'So really? Now you are taking ownership of him? Oh really? Now you are mentoring him? We'll see,'' said Williams. "I'll give him a couple of reps out there, and we will see.' After that, when you give that kid the opportunity and that he fits in the room, as opposed to just anointing him because we drafted him. He has not played in this league. I do not anoint anybody.

"Both he and Myles got the acceptance of everyone faster than most rookies have had. (Ward) fits into the locker room well. Now, he is going to have to light it up and play against good players. I have to do a good job of helping him and coaching him in the ways that coach him to his strengths. He is one of the best press guys that I have seen in the last few years at this level. He still has a ways to go, but coming in, he has a base of knowledge that is pretty good."

Defensive backs coach DeWayne Walker has been thrilled with Ward's progress.

"He's very talented, food speed, good quickness,'' Walker said during minicamp. "The thing that I talk to him a lot about is just learning the NFL game. I know that athletically he is talented, but again, just continuing to help him with the IQ part of it, learning our scheme and just trying to put everything together to help him reach his ceiling."

Walker said the time was right to promote Ward to the first team.

"With his speed and his quickness and his football savvy, it was just pretty obvious that the reps that he is getting is going to allow him to improve and help us win some football games,'' he said. "Even though we did not get a chance to play a lot of press coverage, he can play press. He is learning how to play off-coverage.''

In a little over five weeks, Ward will get his welcome to the NFL by covering Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown in the opener at FirstEnergy Stadium.

https://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2018/07/browns_denzel_ward_signs_his_rookie_contract.html

NICE!

Done, now we're ready, truly ready, for training camp.

okay good

I've been saying that I didn't like the Ward pick since draft night ... and I still would have chosen Chubb or traded back .. but I root like heck for Ward's development now

I think far too many fans were focused on the QB's and names like Chubb and Barkley. IMO in the midst of all that, they were overlooking the talent of a player like Ward.

Glad he picked it up. And glad it is over and done. Now for some football. Good luck!

I am tickled to get this done. Welcome aboard, and go win us some games.

Awesome - lets get it going

Amen +1

Has he been indicted to the HOF... named ROY.. probowl selection...

Lets see some games,I don't have any doubts that once the games start, anyone comparing Saquan to Ward talent level is going to have some existential problems.

Ward is talented but not at the same level has Saquan, but I guess we will see it soon.

We won't need that many games to see if Ward is really talented of if he is just Haden v2.... same for Saquan

Denzel Ward is every bit as talented at his position as Barkley is at his... JMHO I guess you didn't watch many Buckeye games?

No he is not. Ward is small and not physically fit to be dominant at his position, specially at the NFL covering powerful receivers. He was never at Patrick Peterson level,for example.

Saquan was something special in college, he was the best college player, he has all the tools to translate well into the NFL. His is/was at Zeke's, Lynch, AP, Sanders level.

He could end up being Trent Richardson 2nd... but like TR when we drafted him (which was the exception on great college RB's) nothing points to him being a bust.

It will not take much time to see if they are special, and I wish both and specially Ward to be very successful.We will see it when we play the Stealers and Ward has to cover Antonio Brown....

Well Barkley was drafted at #2 and wasn't available at #4 anyway. So your point is moot.

My point was that fans were focused on "the media darlings" and not on other players. It makes it easy to overlook great talent when that happens.

Quick study: Browns rookie CB Ward off to impressive start
By TOM WITHERS




Denzel Ward

Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward runs a drill during NFL football training camp, Thursday, July 26, 2018, in Berea, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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BEREA, Ohio (AP) — 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 All-American has joined the first-team defense, and the Browns believe the 21-year-old 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-on-11 drills, and Ward looked comfortable whether in goal-line situations or third-and-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 man-to-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.

The deal includes a $19 million signing bonus, and the financial security prompted Ward, who grew up just outside Cleveland, to pay off the mortgage for his mother, Nicole. Ward's father, Paul, died two years ago.

"My mom has done a lot for me," he said. "So whatever I can do to make things easier for my mom, I'm down to do it."

He has everything covered.

https://pro32.ap.org/wxow/article/quick-study-browns-rookie-cb-ward-impressive-start

Shout out to Nordonia, Macedonia, Ohio

I can't prove it, but I think Ward is going to be a very good player in the NFL for a long time.

You got a link?

I think I'm just going to put this here. "HURT MY FEELINGS!!"

Still can’t believe this was ruled targeting. It was a completely clean hit.

Just wait for the NFL this year. I have a feeling there will be a lot of "WHAT???" calls.