The Cleveland Browns finished fourth in the NFL in total defense last season, allowing just 283.6 yards per game. This is their second time finishing in the top five in three seasons, and third in the last five seasons. A major component of these finishes has been cornerback Denzel Ward, whom Cleveland drafted back in 2018. With the ESPN top 100 players coming out, did Ward make the cut?
For the third time in eight seasons, Ward has missed the cut, according to the staff at ESPN. Last season, he placed 74th, but this is the second time in three seasons Ward has been snubbed from the list. The beauty of lists like these is that most major sports companies release similar rankings, so missing the ESPN list isn't the end of the world.
Ward has been
an integral cog in multiple top-ten finishes during his tenure and should be a mainstay in this secondary in 2026. There is an influx of talent on this side of the ball, so another top-ranked finish isn't out of the question this season.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Where did Denzel Ward rank in ESPN's Top 100 NFL Players?
