2018 NFL Draft Grades: Browns get a B for taking Denzel Ward at No. 4 over Bradley Chubb

The Browns pulled off the biggest early surprise of draft night by passing on Chubb for Ward

With the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Browns selected Denzel Ward, cornerback out of Ohio State.

Draft tracker: Get grades for every pick

Grade: B

Pete Prisco: I love the player and the way he covers, but why not Bradley Chubb?

Change the way you listen to NFL news, subscribe to the Pick Six Podcast with Will Brinson and you'll know everything you need to know about the 2018 NFL Draft. Subscribe: via iTunes | via Stitcher | via TuneIn

Scouting report

Chris Trapasso: Feisty man-to-man outside cornerback with blazing speed. Better in man than zone and lacks ideal outside cornerback size. Makes plenty of plays on the football though awareness can be lacking at time. Enforces his will on crossing routes.

Fantasy impact

Jamey Eisenberg: Wow, what a surprise by the Browns here. Ward is a standout cornerback and a need for Cleveland, but his value will be limited in IDP leagues. He helps the Browns DST -- not as much as Bradley Chubb would have -- but Ward won't be selected in re-draft IDP leagues. In rookie-only drafts with IDP options, Ward is a late-round pick because safeties, not corners, tend to produce more Fantasy stats.

NCAA recap

Dave Biddle, Bucknuts: When Ward committed to Ohio State prior to his senior season in high school, the Macedonia (Nordonia), Ohio, cornerback was an unheralded three-star recruit. He then had a stellar senior season and was eventually bumped up to a four-star prospect in the 247Sports Composite (No. 26 corner nationally, No. 270 overall). Ward mainly played on special teams as a true freshman for the Buckeyes in 2015 and quickly made a name for himself as one of the fastest players on the roster.

As a sophomore in 2016, Ward was part of a three-man cornerback rotation that included future first-round draft picks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley. The fact that Ward played as many snaps as Lattimore and Conley said a lot about how OSU's coaches felt about him. Then as a junior in 2017, Ward had his breakout season and was named first-team All-American by the Associated Press. Ward decided to declare for the NFL Draft and chose not to play in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against USC to prevent injury.