The Cleveland Browns are unlikely to make the playoffs, and because of that, could be sellers ahead of the trade deadline.
The Browns are off to a 1-3 start and have already made a quarterback change as the rebuild continues. With that, NFL insider Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated predicts the Browns will deal star cornerback Denzel Ward to the Seattle Seahawks for a second-round pick.
The Seahawks have a talented defense, but they could use another reliable cornerback,” Manzano wrote. “Riq Woolen has struggled to play as well as he did in his rookie season in 2022 and has given up chunk plays at crucial times this year.
“Additionally, with Ward in Seattle, it would allow coach Mike Macdonald to move around Devon Witherspoon between inside and outside cornerback positions. The 28-year-old Ward is a four-time Pro Bowler with 18 career interceptions,” Manzano added.
Ward has been an elite cornerback since entering the NFL after the Browns selected him fourth overall in 2018.
Ward is in the midst of a five-year, $100.5 million deal with Cleveland. The lockdown corner has 10 tackles and one interception in 4 games this season with the Browns. In his career, he has recorded 332 tackles, 18 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 6 fumble recoveries, and 98 pass defenses.
Insider Gives Browns News on Ward’s Trade Value
Although Manzano only has Cleveland getting a second-round pick for Ward, which is a bit of a surprise, another insider believes that is his perceived value.
In the offseason, ESPN NFL insider Bill Barnwell wrote that Ward wouldn’t fetch a first-round pick in a trade.
“Denzel Ward, 28, is still one of the league’s top cornerbacks,” Barnwell wrote. “But teams just do not want to send significant draft capital for even great corners after they’ve signed veteran extensions, with Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey both failing to land even a second-round pick for their teams when they were traded around this same age.”
If the Browns do opt to trade Ward at the deadline, Cleveland would start Jarrick Bernard-Converse, who’s currently Ward’s backup.
Cleveland claimed Bernard-Converse off waivers before the start of the season after the New York Jets waived him. In his NFL career, he’s recorded 7 tackles in 15 games.
Cleveland DC Praises Ward’s Coverage
The Browns defense is led by Myles Garrett and Ward, who’s a lockdown corner.
Against the Detroit Lions, Ward recorded his first interception of the season, which Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was pleased with.
“Like the interception that Denzel (Ward) had was a direct result of what the guys did up front,” Schwartz said. “Shelby (Harris) cracked a stunt up front. Quarterback had a guy in his face, he had to elevate the ball high. Denzel did a really good job in the coverage.
“We did overlap and were rewarded with a turnover,” Schwartz added. “So, it all really goes down to pass rush. And, even if you’re not sacking the quarterback, if you’re affecting the quarterback, making him throw before he wants to, or make him make errant throws, then it’s part of it goes. (Carson) Wentz has fumbled a lot in his career. We gotta be aggressive at the ball when we’re in the pocket there because there’s gonna be opportunities there.”
The Browns are set to play the Minnesota Vikings in England in Week 5.
