The Cleveland Browns have had a lot of young players become an important part of their foundation over the last few years. Many of them have been given new contracts the last couple of seasons and will be around for years to come. A few draft picks from the last couple of years, Jedrick Wills, Greg Newsome II and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, hope to join those ranks.
While Cleveland is still a young team, many of their building blocks are on to their second contracts. Crossing into the mid-20s when they are expected to be in their prime, the Browns are young but not that young.
The 33rd Team, led by former NFL executives Mike Tannenbaum, Joe Banner and Bill Polian, put out their list of the top 25 players in the NFL under the age of 25. Cleveland’s CB Denzel Ward made the list at #18 with his highest ranking be at 12 and his lowest at 27:
Denzel Ward, a recent recipient of a market-resetting contract, has the tape to back up his paycheck. The former fourth-overall pick has defended 50 passes and intercepted ten since being drafted. Ward has the chops to consistently beat the receiver across from him, a defensive luxury in the modern NFL. Ward allowed the sixth-fewest yards in coverage this past season among corners with at least 800 snaps.
Ward is the lone Browns player on the list which includes some exciting names from around the league. That highlights the fact that Cleveland is in win-now mode with their roster.
Perhaps Newsome and Owusu-Koramoah join the list next year.
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