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Denzel Ward

Denzel Ward

28-Year-Old CornerbackCB
Cleveland Browns
2024 Defense Stats
TCKL
49
SACKS
0.0
INT
2
FF
1
TD
0
2025 Projections
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SACKS
INT
FF
TD
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2025 Fantasy Outlook
While the defense took a huge step backward in 2024 and was prominent in the Browns' collapse, Ward's elite play at cornerback was unfazed. The seven-year veteran had another strong season, recording 49 tackles, a league-high 19 passes defensed, two interceptions and a respectable 53.5 reception percentage. The 28-year-old has multiple picks in all seven seasons of his NFL career. Injuries have been prominent since he was drafted in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, but Ward appeared in a career-high 16 games in 2024 and enters 2025 as the 10th-ranked cornerback per Pro Football Focus. Read Past Outlooks
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RANKS
#756
ADP
#Subscriber-Only
IDP
Bye Week 9
Height 5'11"
Weight 190
DOB 4/28/1997
College Ohio State
Drafted 1st Rd 2018 #4 Overall
Signed a five-year, $100.5 million contract with the Browns in April of 2022.
Returns to practice
CBCleveland Browns
August 26, 2025
Ward (shoulder) is practicing Tuesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
ANALYSIS
Ward hurt his shoulder during practice last week and missed Saturday's preseason finale against the Rams. However, his ability to return to practice Tuesday suggests that the veteran cornerback will be fine for Cleveland's regular-season opener against Cincinnati on Sept. 7.
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2024 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
Cleveland BrownsBrowns 2024 CB Snap Distribution
See more data like this | See last season's snap counts
M.Martin Emerson
D.Denzel Ward
G.Greg Newsome
C.Cameron Mitchell
M.Mike Ford
M.Myles Harden
C.Chigozie Anusiem
#% of Team Snaps
79175%
73169%
54852%
35834%
565%
525%
71%
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#1 LCB
Cleveland BrownsBrowns
  1. Denzel Ward
  2. Jarrick Bernard-Converse
  3. Anthony KendallIR
2024 Denzel Ward Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do Denzel Ward's measurables compare to other cornerbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"
 
Weight
190 lbs
 
40-Yard Dash
4.32 sec
 
Vertical Jump
39.0 in
 
Broad Jump
136 in
 
Bench Press
16 reps
 
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Denzel Ward See More
Week 18 Friday Injury Report: Waddle Trending Up, Mooney a Game-Time Call
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Week 18 Friday Injury Report: Waddle Trending Up, Mooney a Game-Time Call
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Jerry Donabedian
243 days ago
NFL Game Previews: Week 18 Matchups
NFL
NFL Game Previews: Week 18 Matchups
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Erik Siegrist
244 days ago
Box Score Breakdown: Week 17 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
NFL
Box Score Breakdown: Week 17 Snaps, Routes, Personnel and Usage
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Jerry Donabedian
247 days ago
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 17 Matchups
NFL
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 17 Matchups
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Mario Puig
250 days ago
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 16 Matchups
NFL
Wide Receivers vs. Cornerbacks: Week 16 Matchups
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Mario Puig
256 days ago
Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Denzel Ward See More
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
Ward bounced back from what advanced analytics indicate was his worst season in 2022. His coverage grade returned to normal in 2023, while his reception rate was a career-best 51.5 percent. Ward also had two interceptions, his sixth straight season with multiple picks. The 2018 first-rounder returns as the leader of what is considered the strongest level of the league's top-ranked passing defense (164.7 YPG) and one the best cornerback units in the league, along with Greg Newsome and Martin Emerson.
A deep statistical analysis of Ward's 2022 season indicates the worst coverage grade of his five years, but fantasy football doesn't operate like that. Value comes from making plays and Ward does that despite seeing fewer targets than others in the cornerback rotation. In 2022, he finished with 15 passes defensed, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries for touchdowns. For his career, Ward scored four touchdowns and was responsible for 18 turnovers. He's the pivotal player in a deep secondary and typically draws an opponent's best wideout.
Ward, who was taken fourth overall in the 2018 draft, had another fine campaign in 2021, logging multiple interceptions for a fourth straight season, recording double-digit passes defensed and scoring the second TD of his career with a 99-yard pick-six in a Week 9 win over the Bengals. The Browns then rewarded the 25-year-old for his efforts, giving Ward another five years and $100.5 million, with $71.25 million reportedly guaranteed, a record-setting deal for a cornerback. This coming season, the Ohio State product will once again cover opponents' top receivers.
Ward, a 2018 Pro Bowler as a rookie, returns as the Browns' top cornerback. He has yet to play a full NFL season and finished 2020 with 46 tackles, a career-high 18 passes defensed, two interceptions and a forced fumble over 12 games. If the old adage "a rising tide lifts all boats" is true, Ward could return to the Pro Bowl. Part of the organization's plan this offseason was to improve at every level of the defense, with notable additions on the back end, an approach that figures to improve the team context around Ward, whose fifth-year contract option for 2022 was picked up by the Browns.
Ward, the No. 4 overall pick in 2018, did not repeat his Pro-Bowl rookie season, but he was the Browns' top cover man in 2019, per Pro Football Focus. He struggled to get on the field due to a hamstring issue and later was limited by an ankle, finishing with 44 tackles, two interceptions and a touchdown. He's yet to play a full 16 games over his two NFL seasons, so at some point durability could be an issue that creeps into seasonal outlooks. If he's healthy, the Browns will ask Ward will go toe-to-toe with opponent's best wideouts.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 draft molded an impressive rookie campaign, and the sky is the limit for the young defensive back. Ward proved to be a ballhawk in college and during his first year with the Browns. He intercepted three passes, forced a fumble and added another 11 pass defenses. While his tackling did improve from early in his rookie season, boosting that area of his game will be key if he wants to take the next step.
The fourth overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Ward immediately improves Cleveland's defense and projects to step right into one of the team's starting cornerback slots alongside E.J. Gaines. At 5-11, 190, Ward has the talent to handle receivers on the outside well due to his footwork and ability to match change of speeds. During his final year at Ohio State, he deflected 15 passes while adding two interceptions.
More Fantasy News
Considered day-to-day
CBCleveland Browns
Shoulder
August 21, 2025
Ward (shoulder) didn't practice Thursday and is considered day-to-day, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Avoids serious injury
CBCleveland Browns
Shoulder
August 19, 2025
The shoulder injury Ward suffered during Tuesday's training camp practice is not believed to be serious, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
ANALYSIS
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Injured in practice
CBCleveland Browns
Shoulder
August 19, 2025
Ward suffered an apparent upper right arm or shoulder injury in Tuesday's practice, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Drilling during OTAs
CBCleveland Browns
June 4, 2025
Ward (shoulder) participated during OTAs on Tuesday, Kennedy Rodriguez of the Browns' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
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Not playing at Baltimore
CBCleveland Browns
Shoulder
January 2, 2025
Ward (shoulder) is out for Saturday's game against the Ravens, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Dodges serious injury
CBCleveland Browns
August 19, 2025
Ward's shoulder injury is not believed to be serious, NFL reporter Jordan Schultz reports.
ANALYSIS
Ward exited Tuesday's practice with a shoulder issue and was surrounded by trainers on his way off the field. The team has yet to release any additional information, and he will undergo more tests. Ward is among the best corners in the league when healthy, but he has missed at least five regular-season games due to shoulder injuries during his career, most recently Week 17 of last season.
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