Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward had a spectacular rookie campaign this past season, playing in 13 games and registering 53 tackles, three interceptions, a forced fumble, a couple of fumble recoveries and 11 passes defended en route to a Pro Bowl appearance.
What will he do for an encore in 2019?
Well, ESPN is expecting big things from Ward this coming season, as it is projecting him to rack up 68 tackles, a couple of picks, a forced fumble and 12 passes defended.
Ward, who played his collegiate football at Ohio State, was originally selected by the Browns with the fourth overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He spent three seasons with the Buckeyes, and in his junior campaign, he registered 37 tackles, a pair of interceptions and 15 passes defended in what was by far his most productive collegiate season.
The 22-year-old is a huge part of what is a much improved Browns squad.
Cleveland went 7-8-1 this past year, marking its best finish since winning 10 games all the way back in 2007. The Browns began the year with a record of 2-6-1 and fired head coach Hue Jackson. Following his dismissal, Cleveland went 5-2 over its final seven games and actually briefly vaulted itself into playoff contention.
Then, this offseason, the Browns made numerous huge additions, trading for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and linebacker Oliver Vernon and signing running back Kareem Hunt and defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson in free agency.
Cleveland is looking to break the longest active postseason drought in the NFL, as the Browns have not made the playoffs since 2002.