ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Denzel Ward of Ohio State poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being picked #4 overall by the Cleveland Browns during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

How the Cleveland Browns can win Super Bowl 53 in five easy steps by Martin McConnell

The Cleveland Browns surprised many draft pundits when they drafted cornerback Denzel Ward fourth overall, and Ward believes his path to playing for his hometown team is a great story.

When talking about the Cleveland Browns 2018 draft class, most of, if not all of the talk surrounds first overall pick Baker Mayfield. Mayfield has a great story of starting college as a walk-on to finishing his college career winning the Heisman Trophy.

But another player the Browns drafted in 2018 also has a great story. Drafted three selections after Mayfield, Denzel Ward gets the opportunity to play for the team and city that he grew up 20 miles away from.

Talking with NFL Network’s Willie McGinest, Ward believes that the way his football career has worked out “couldn’t be written any better.”

“Honestly I feel like it couldn’t be written any better,” Ward said. “To grow up in Cleveland and then go to Ohio State, that’s the school I wanted to play at anyway when I was in high school. And then get drafted by my hometown team, the Browns. It couldn’t be written any better than that.”

For years, Browns fans have wanted the organization to take advantage of the school that is two hours away in Ohio State and draft the talented players coming from the football team. Not only did the Browns do just that by drafting Ward, but they also drafted a player that grew up in northeast Ohio.

The early reviews about Ward’s play during the team’s off-season programs have been promising. It appears that Ward will be starting for the Browns Week One, and could be even given the task of shadowing the opposing team’s number one receiver.

In the same interview with NFL Network, Ward was asked how he is getting prepared to face the talented receivers in the AFC North.

“I obviously haven’t played in a NFL game yet,” Ward said. “But I definitely feel that guys like Jarvis [Landry], and guys like Josh Gordon are definitely getting me prepared for the game.”

Playing with the starting defense, Ward will get plenty of time covering Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry. Both Browns receivers are two of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and both have different strengths. Ward being able to get exposure to those strengths will definitely help him prepare for receivers like A.J. Green and Antonio Brown.

For Browns fans, having a hometown player like Ward on the team will make the Browns much more interesting to watch. And Ward could easily become a fan favorite with the ties he has to the area.