The Cleveland Browns have not had the season that they have hoped but still have a chance to make the playoffs. The odds of them doing so are not high but the chance is still there as they work through COVID-19 and injury issues late in the season.
While the team’s 2021 season hasn’t been what they would have hoped, there continues to be confidence in some of the building blocks. The team had five players named to the Pro Bowl with four of the five recently locked up to long-term deals.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen also just named a couple of Browns cornerbacks on his annual list focused on that position group. Bowen took a look at the best cornerbacks at 25 different skills for a subscriber piece for ESPN ($):
Best closing speed
Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
What are we looking for here? It’s the ability to close in a short area, a vital tool for any defensive back who wants to finish on the ball. And Ward can close with some serious juice. Whether he is driving top down from an off-coverage technique or using that lateral burst to snug up to the hip of a wide receiver at the break, he is lightning quick.
Bowen also noted rookie Greg Newsome II as the second-best rookie at the position behind Patrick Surtain II.
Ward is the Pro Bowler that hasn’t signed a long-term extension with the team. While injuries have caused problems for each this year, the team’s foundation could be set strong if Cleveland is able to secure a multi-year deal with Ward.
