Browns Cornerback Earns Spot on Projected Top 100 Players List

Expectation for Browns cornerback Denzel Ward remain high despite a down year in 2022. According to the MMQB, he projects as a top 100 player for 2023.

It is no secret that this happens to be a big year of expectations for Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. Ward had a bit of a down year statistically after becoming one of the NFL's highest paid cornerbacks from signing a new 5-year,$100.5M, contract. Ward understands that if the team is going to reach the heights that they have set for the season, that he will have to a big year as the team's lockdown corner.

While Ward played at elite levels at times during the 2022 season he finished as the 97th ranked cornerback overall according to Pro-Football Focus. Much of this can probably be attributed to the Browns playing poorly as a unit and many expect him to return to form this year under new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Count one media outlet among them being Sports Illustrated's and the MMQB. As part of their season preview coverage, Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame are Projecting the Top 100 Players From the 2023 NFL Season. They released players ranked 61-80 earlier today.

In it, they have ranked Browns cornerback Denzel Ward at number 65 overall. They called Ward one of the more unheralded stars in the game, saying he doesn't get mentioned often enough as one of the game's top corners. They also added some statistics to back up their projection, noting that the two-time Pro Bowler has 13 career interceptions and has totaled at least 10 passes defended in each of his first five seasons in the league.