Tag: Denzel Ward

Bucs could fix their secondary problems with one trade this offseason

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com shared some news this week that Bucs fans may want to hear. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have struggled with their pass coverage in recent years. The secondary has had investments made to it with an extension of Antoine Winfield Jr. and selections like Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith.

Despite that investment, they have still struggled to find success. However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com shared some news this week that Bucs fans may want to hear. 

The Browns drafted Denzel Ward in 2018 with the fourth pick in the draft. Since that time, Ward has been selected to four Pro Bowls and emerged as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. Mary Kay Cabot’s report, though, indicates that if the Browns trade Myles Garrett, Ward may also want to be gone.

If the Bucs cannot get Myles Garrett to come to Tampa Bay, they need to pursue Ward. Either player would immediately help the Bucs defense, specifically their pass defense.

They proved to be a liability all year and, in the end, cost them a decent playoff run.

Another perennial Pro Bowler contemplating future with the Browns

The Browns could be forced to make more difficult decisions as Myles Garrett’s trade request looms large

Could Denzel Ward take a page from Myles Garrett’s playbook and request a trade from the Cleveland Browns next?

The Browns are facing a dilemma as the fallout from Garrett’s trade request continues to ripple throughout the organization.

Now, his potential departure raises serious concerns about the team’s direction. The Browns have built their defensive identity around their defensive line, with Garrett as its lynchpin. If he is dealt, it will undoubtedly cause a domino effect on the franchise, leaving us bereft of any elite talent and cast adrift in a sea of mediocrity.

Speaking with Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland dot com, cornerback Denzel Ward didn’t mince words when reacting to the news.

“Are we trying to win if we’re trading Hall of Fame players like that?”

Ward’s comments underline a growing sentiment within the organization that moving Garrett could signal a larger shift in direction—one that raises serious questions about Cleveland’s viability as a contender.

When informed that the Browns have no intention of trading Garrett—not even for two first-round picks—Ward’s response shifted to optimism.

“That’s great news.. We’ve got to get this thing rolling in Cleveland, and get the quarterback position together and get a few other positions together and find a way to compete for championships and make it here where we get to a Super Bowl.”

Ward’s comments hint at a silver lining: while uncertainty looms, the team believes that the Browns’ window isn’t closed just yet.

Could the Vikings use Sam Darnold to acquire an All-Pro defensive player?

During Super Bowl media week, the Cleveland Browns are on the receiving end of bad news but good news for 31 other teams. 

The NFL offseason sometimes gives fans and the media busier news days than they could have expected at any other time. One way that happens is when a star player either requests a trade or is traded entirely.

During Super Bowl media week, the Cleveland Browns received bad news, but 31 other teams received good news.

It all started when Myles Garrett publicly announced that he would be seeking a trade away from the team. He cited the team’s current stage of development and said he did not want to be a part of another rebuild. If the team does indeed decide to trade him, another top defensive player may be on the outs as well following in his footsteps.

It was reported late Wednesday night by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that if the team trades Garrett, cornerback Denzel Ward would possibly follow him by requesting a trade.

This is where the Vikings come into play for these defensive players, they have one major bargaining chip the team could use, a quarterback.

Do not worry, I am not talking about J.J. McCarthy, I am talking about Sam Darnold. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has ties to the Browns, so that communication channel can be used easily. Not saying a one-for-one trade is that easy for Darnold for Garrett or Ward, but it would be a great starting point.

For Denzel Ward especially, he is a young cornerback who could be acquired for a much smaller price than Garrett. He has an injury history that is troublesome, but sending Darnold for him sure beats losing Darnold for nothing in free agency.

Bleacher Report suggests Vikings blockbuster trade this offseason

Bleacher Report pitches a big trade for the Vikings this offseason that would land them help in the secondary.

Although the Minnesota Vikings finished 14-3 in 2024, they enter the 2025 offseason with roster needs. Josh Metellus is the only secondary player under contract in 2025, meaning the Vikings will have to address cornerback and safety through free agency and, likely, the draft.

Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report suggested that the Vikings aggressively address the secondary. He wrote about six trade ideas for the upcoming offseason, including the Vikings trading for Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward.

The trade would have the Vikings give the Browns the 24th overall pick in this year’s draft. Minnesota would receive Ward and a 2025 sixth-round pick.

Davenport explained the trade:

Ward has long been one of the NFL’s better players at a premium position. He’s headed to his fourth Pro Bowl and is in the prime of the career. But if Minnesota offers the 24th overall pick for Ward, Cleveland should pull the trigger.

It would be a truly “all-in” move for the Vikings, who are already short on draft picks this year. But with $57.9 million in cap space, the Vikings could make this splash trade and still have enough money to bring back Sam Darnold.

The Browns will likely be sellers this offseason, with star Myles Garrett stating on Monday that he wants to be traded. Cleveland is trying to get out of the Deshaun Watson mess, so getting rid of players for draft capital makes sense.

This trade doesn’t make much sense for the Vikings, though. Minnesota currently has three selections in the draft. Even if they were to get an additional compensatory pick, would Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wish to send away a first-round pick for a cornerback who will be 28 when the season starts? The financial aspect and more limited period for him to be a high-level option isn’t as appealing as a potential 21- or 22-year-old rookie on a smaller contract.

Ward’s ability is undeniable, though. He was the fourth overall pick in the 2018 draft, and Adofo-Mensah was somewhat familiar with him during his two-year stint in Cleveland from 2020 to 21.

But does that mean Adofo-Mensah pulls the trigger to bring Ward in while trading away a premium draft pick? It doesn’t feel like a move that aligns with what the regime has done up to this point.

Denzel Ward speaks out about the quarterback position in Cleveland

Myles Garrett isn’t the only defensive star concerned about the quarterback position…

Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was recently seen in New York City, discussing the future of Cleveland’s quarterback position with TMZ Sports.

The near All-Pro cornerback spoke in detail about the team’s future and how he believes they should approach this critical position in the offseason. He addressed the offseason’s most pressing question: “Do you think the team needs a good quarterback?”

Here is what Ward had to say:

“I think we need a great quarterback. The NFL starts with that quarterback position. Once you get that, the rest of the team will follow,”

Despite uncertainty at the team’s most important position, the star cornerback remains confident, stating that the Browns aren’t far from being competitive again. Like many other Browns players, Ward understands that the quarterback question is the biggest one surrounding the upcoming season.

The Cleveland Browns currently hold the second overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. While doubts remain about the current quarterback class, the pick could still play a role in shaping the team’s quarterback future if they choose to trade it. Additionally, veteran options such as Sam Darnold and Kirk Cousins are likely to become available.

This offseason will determine whether the Browns address the question that Ward and his teammates will carry into the 2025 training camp.

Denzel Ward narrowly missed out on his first All-Pro honor

The Browns’ cornerback was thiiiiiis close.

AP’s All-Pro lists released on Friday and Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward once again found his name absent.

This would have been his first All-Pro honor.

Ward missed the list by the narrowest of margins, coming in fifth in positional voting out of four available spots, earning 23 points and four first-place votes to Patriots Christian Gonzalez’s 32 points with the same amount of first-place votes who took the final spot.

Ward would have joined pass rusher Myles Garrett as the only other Browns player to receive All-Pro honors but instead joins teammates Jerry Jeudy, Corey Bojorquez, and Jerome Ford (as a punt returner) who received votes but did not make the official team.

Denzel Ward may not get the official title to crown his achievements but that doesn’t mean his season shouldn’t be overlooked. On a team that regressed, Ward battled through multiple injuries to set career highs in games played and pass deflections. Ward and Garrett’s presence on this defense helped maintain a semblance of consistency through a messy season and will remain cornerstones.

More disappointing is the Pro Bowl snub which he has been awarded with four times previously. Minnesota’s Byron Murphy, Chicago’s Jaylon Johnson, Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, and Seattle’s Devon Witherspoon all received fewer All-Pro votes and were all voted into the Pro Bowl ahead of Ward.

Team success may have unfortunately played its way into Ward’s snubs as he produced at an elite level but will receive little recognition. A return to form and better offensive play should only help Ward make an even stronger case next season as he awaits his well-earned achievements.

Sights and sounds from the first half as the Ravens hold a 14-3 lead over the Browns

Sights and sounds from the first half as the Ravens hold a 14-3 lead over the Browns

Baltimore holds a 14-3 lead over Cleveland in the season finale, but all fans and experts can wonder is whether Zay Flowers sustained a serious injury when he was forced to exit with a knee injury.

Flowers had one catch on two targets before exiting, and his injury came shortly after Rashod Bateman was slow to get up after a big hit. Even with the Browns playing stout defense, the Ravens are 30 minutes from clinching the AFC North.

Derrick Henry has six carries for eight yards, and the Ravens have been held to 76 yards rushing in the first half.

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Browns Injury Update: CB Denzel Ward ruled out with a shoulder injury

Cleveland Browns’ star cornerback Denzel Ward has been ruled out for the game against the Miami Dolphins with a right shoulder injury.

Cleveland Browns’ star cornerback Denzel Ward has been ruled out for the game against the Miami Dolphins with a right shoulder injury.

Ward suffered the injury on the penultimate defensive play of the first half. Ward collided with a Dolphins’ receiver and immediately grabbed his right shoulder. He walked to the sideline before re-emerging on the field as the Dolphins ran up to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball. Ward walked off the field with the rest of the defense when Miami brought their field goal unit on.

Ward was ruled out with a shoulder injury during halftime. The cornerback played well against the Dolphins’ during the first half. The cornerback was glued to superstar receiver Tyreek Hill. Ward had a touchdown-saving tackle against Hill after the receiver caught a deep ball over the middle.

The Browns will have to throw a lot of different coverages at Hill with Ward out of the game. The Browns’ defensive backfield doesn’t have the speed to hang with Hill on the outside. The team will need to limit Hill if they want to win against the Dolphins.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shares his thoughts on the Browns’ defense: ‘A great challenge’

Kansas City #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes shares his thoughts on the Cleveland #Browns’ defense: ‘A great challenge’ | @EdEastonJr

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has faced pressure in the pocket throughout the season and has fallen victim to numerous sacks. This Sunday, he faces another aggressive defense with pass-rushing superstar Myles Garrett and the Cleveland Browns.

Mahomes shared his thoughts on Garrett and the Browns defense during Wednesday’s conversation with reporters in his weekly press conference.

“I think you have to prepare for it as an entire offense. You have to give him (Browns DE Myles Garrett) different looks. You can’t let him just pass rush over and over again. I mean, he’s – he won Defensive Player of the Year for a reason, man.” said Mahomes. “He’s going to win a lot of those matchups, and so we’ll throw him changeups, we’ll throw him different pitches that he can hopefully keep his mind racing, but at the end of the day, he’s going to make plays happen. When he starts to win reps or win certain plays, you have to not make them negative plays, get rid of the football, even if that’s throwing it away, and live to play another play.”

Garrett has gotten plenty of attention from offenses over the years for understandable reasons as he continues his torrid play. His teammates on defense have earned a reputation for great play over the years, and Mahomes was sure to highlight them as well.

“They have a lot of great players, I think. You look at the cornerback position in (Browns CB) Denzel Ward – the linebacker position, they’re flying around – safeties, same as well, and then obviously the defensive line. Then, (Browns Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Jim) Schwartz does a great job of mixing up coverages (and) bringing pressure when it’s necessary and then dropping into zone and man coverage when it’s necessary.” said Mahomes. “It’s a really good team. I mean, they were – last year, they have a lot of the same players from last year’s defense that was like number one in the league. It’s a great team with a lot of pride that’s going to be coming (and) playing hard, especially at home, and we understand that it’s going to be a great challenge. We’re going to have to play our best football to win.”

The Chiefs will play another hungry team on the road, trying to pull off an upset and salvage a disappointing season. A game of this nature occurred a few weeks ago against the Carolina Panthers and Las Vegas Raiders as each contest came down to the final play.

Browns name their Walter Payton Man of the Year award nominee

Nominating a player for Walter Payton Man of the Year award every year, the Browns have named Denzel Ward their candidate

Every year, all 32 teams nominate one player to be named their Walter Payton Man of the Year award, and this year, the Cleveland Browns have named cornerback Denzel Ward their candidate.

The NFL awards one player every year and, “recognizes an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field. The award was established in 1970. It was renamed in 1999 after the late Hall of Fame Chicago Bears running back, Walter Payton.” Should Ward win the award, he would also receive $250,000 to donate to the charity of his choice.

This is the second time Ward has been nominated for the honor.

Ward is well known for his work off-the-field in making sure that every public gathering place has a defibrillator on site after his father passed away due to a heart attack. Ward has placed devices in YMCAs, gyms, churches, and more all over Northeast Ohio throughout his time in the NFL.

Congrats to Ward and best of luck as he now enters a pool of 32 other players for the prestigious honor of the Walter Payton Man of the Year.