2018 NFL Mock Draft: Cleveland Browns Select CB Denzel Ward at No. 4

With the fourth pick of the 2018 DBN Community NFL Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select...

Denzel Ward, CB, Ohio State

The selection and write-up were made by Keyser Sozze:

I have a plan that is going to help get rid of a huge hole in our defense with this pick. This gives the Browns a shutdown corner and adds to the depth at cornerback addressed in free agent pick-ups Mitchell and Carrie, along with Boddy-Calhoun, and we finally get to see what Wilson can do now that he is healthy. Opposing quarterbacks won’t be able to release the ball as quickly now with our Dawgs up front zeroing in with bad intentions. Now the norm will be these quarterbacks running for their lives when playing Cleveland and one of two bad things are going to happen:

1. There are no receivers open, so instant pain for them to cry about
2. The pass rush forces them into mental mistakes and our defensive backs get to enjoy the tasty interceptions.

I’m sure Gregg Williams already has some new plays drawn up so his defense can take advantage of this great player with 4.32 speed and such tight coverage skills that if the quarterback doesn’t make his throw of the day, the ball isn’t getting completed. I almost forgot that he is one of the most amazing punt/kick blockers that I have ever seen, so look for at least one block this season in addition to some field misses and shanked punts because they are having to rush to get them off.

Pokorny: “I thought the bold formatting throughout was a mistake at first...but some of you will pick up on it. I wouldn’t automatically bank on one blocked kick per season; that just gets incredibly hard to do at the NFL level. But the Browns needed a top-tier player in the secondary, and Ward is one of the candidates to fit that bill. Being from Ohio State and a local product in general will get fans behind him instantly.”

The Denver Broncos are up next, led by poultman.