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Cleveland Browns, Denzel Ward
September 3, 2024 By  AFC North, Cleveland Browns, NFL

Cleveland Browns: PFF Has Bold Take On The Cleveland Browns Defense Which Will Make Fans Happy

The Cleveland Browns have a tough test in Week One when they welcome in the Dallas Cowboys, and they will be going up against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, Dak Prescott, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.

The Browns had one of the best defenses in the NFL last season, and when they were at home, they didn’t give up many yards and scores, going 8-1.

Cleveland Browns, Martin Emerson
Dec 24, 2023; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans running back Devin Singletary (26) runs with the ball as Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) attempts to make a tackle during the first quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland will need to see its defense play better on the road this season. Last year’s playoff game in Houston left a bad taste in the defense’s mouth after quarterback C. J. Stroud threw all over them.

The Browns still have one of the best cornerback trios in the NFL, with cornerbacks Denzel Ward, Martin Emerson Jr., and Greg Newsome II, and Pro Football Focus has them highly rated.

PFF Has A Big Take For The Cleveland Browns Defense

Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) runs with the ball after a catch as Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) defends during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) runs with the ball after a catch as Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) defends during the second half at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Sikkema from Pro Football Focus wrote an article Bold predictions for all 32 NFL teams in 2024 and had a lot of great things to say about the Brown’s cornerbacks stating they will have the best corners in the league this season”Denzel WardMartin Emerson and Greg Newsome make for a very talented cornerback trio, and that group could take the step into the top spot as the best cornerback room in the NFL in 2024. Cleveland’s cornerbacks earned a 76.6 coverage grade last season, which was good for 11th. But all three of those players missed some time due to injuries. With health on their side, I can see a dominant year from that group — and the league’s highest coverage grade collectively.”

Cincinatti Bengals Ja'Marr Chase
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) is pushed out of bounds after a catch by Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) in the third quarter of an NFL football game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023, at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland.

The Browns have three of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but it’s all about staying healthy. Denzel Ward just had the fifth concussion of his pro career during training camp, and Greg Newsome missed most of camp with a hamstring injury.

If Cleveland’s corners can stay healthy, there is no reason why they can’t have the best corners in the sport. It will be interesting to see how they do in Jim Schwartz’s defense’s second season.

Avatar of Daniel Fisher

About Daniel Fisher

Daniel Fisher is a sports writer for Gridiron Heroics covering the NFL and College Football. He has been covering the NFL and College Football for the past two years and with a focus on the Cleveland Browns and Ohio State Buckeyes.

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