Denzel Ward has lived up to the hype since the Browns drafted him fourth overall in 2018.
Ward, an Ohio State product and Macedonia native, has become a top leader and consistent playmaking cornerback ever since he returned to Northeast Ohio. He signed a contract extension Wednesday as a reward for his production that will keep his talents in Cleveland through 2027.
We're diving into some of the numbers that highlight just how huge Ward has been to Cleveland's defense:
10 - Ward has totaled 10 interceptions since he was drafted fourth overall in the 2018 draft. He's recorded two or more picks in each of his four seasons in the league and is coming off a three-INT season in 2021.
99 - Two of those picks were returned for touchdowns, including a 99-yard touchdown in Week 9 against the Bengals last season that stood as the longest play in the entire NFL that season. His other touchdown was also against the Bengals — a 61-yard score in Week 13 of 2019.
7 - Ward is seventh in the league since he was drafted with 50 pass breakups. Twenty-eight of them have been recorded since 2020, which also ranks seventh in the league.
4 - Ward is tied for fourth (with Corey Fuller) on the Browns' all-time pass breakup list.
3 - Ward was the only player in the NFL last season to have three or more pass breakups in three games. He's also tied for first in the league with six games of three or more pass breakups since 2018.
14 - Ward has 14 career games with multiple pass breakups, which is tied for fifth in franchise history.
9.3 - Ward allowed 9.3 yards per completion last season. That number has gone down the last three years, from 12.9 in 2019 to 10.9 in 2020.
2 - Ward has been voted to two Pro Bowls. He earned the honor in his rookie season in 2018 and again in 2021.
24 - Ward will be 25 next season, a young age for a player who already has four years in the NFL. He is just now entering his peak, and he's now set to live it in Cleveland.
Four-year veteran and two-time Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward signed a contract extension Tuesday that will keep him in Cleveland through 2027.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) signs a contract extension at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on April 20, 2022.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns on November 15, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 10-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Jarvis Landry Charity Softball Game on June 15, 2019th
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Browns 2018 first round draft picks arrive at the Berea Facility for the first time on April 27, 2018.
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns at First Energy Stadium on September 20, 2018 on Thursday Night Football
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 35-30.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9th, 2018
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football on January 3, 2022 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 14-26.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers on December 25, 2021 at Lambeau Field. The Browns lost 22-24.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on November 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 41-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns on December 20, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) and the defense during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night Football on November 28, 2021 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 10-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns on November 21, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 13-10.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns on December 12, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 24-22.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals on November 7, 2021 at Paul Brown Stadium. The Browns won 41-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings on October 3, 2021 at US Bank Stadium. The Browns won 14-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and Cleveland Browns on October 17, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 14 - 37.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns on September 26, 2021 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 26-6.
Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on 11/4/18
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) and Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets on December 27, 2020 at MetLife Stadium. The Browns lost 23-16.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns on November 1, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns lost 16-6.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on September 12, 2021 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 29-33.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs on September 12, 2021 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Browns lost 29-33.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a preseason NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars on August 14, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field. The Browns won 23-13.
1946 Jersey Reveal Photoshoot
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during a NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns on November 22, 2020 at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns won 22-17.
2021 Cleveland Browns Media Day
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) before a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers on October 18, 2020 at Heinz Field. The Browns lost 38-7.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) after a NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Dallas Cowboys on October 4, 2020 at AT&T Stadium. The Browns won 49 - 38.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at First Energy Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals game on December 29, 2019 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Media Days 2019
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during an NFL football game between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens on September 13, 2020 at M&T Bank Stadium. The Browns lost 6–38.
2020 Media Day
Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots game on October 27, 2019 at Gillette Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals on November 25, 2018 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on December 11, 2019.
Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals game on December 29, 2019 at Paul Brown Stadium.
Browns 2018 first round draft picks arrive at the Berea Facility for the first time on April 27, 2018.
Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals game on December 15, 2019 at State Farm Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers game on December 1, 2019 at Heinz Field.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the eighteenth day of camp on August 20, 2019.
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos game on November 4, 2019 at Empower Field at Mile High.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on October 15, 2019
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns game on November 14, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns on September 8, 2019 at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the third day of training camp on July 27, 2019.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) on July 24, 2019.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the second practice of OTAs on May 15, 2019
Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on September 30, 2018
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 9th, 2018
