The Cleveland Browns might've laid an egg in 2024, posting a 3-14 record in a season where not much went right on either side of the ball, but there were bright spots.
With a promising QB room this summer and some additions on both offense and defense through free agency and the NFL Draft, there are reasons to be optimistic.
And then, there are those bright spots.
Star defensive end Myles Garrett was just made the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL ... ever - although he now sits behind wideout Ja'Marr Chase, who now owns that title. And he'll be playing with one of the best cornerbacks in the league once again next season.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was just ranked in the top 10 at his position in the NFL, and rightfully so.
Across his seven seasons in the league, Ward has made four Pro Bowls and posted 322 total tackles with 264 solo and 11 for loss. He's added six QB hits and half a sack, with 17 interceptions, including two for touchdowns, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries with two for touchdowns.
But that interceptions total bothers Ward, and his goal is to increase that in 2025.
"I mean, getting a PBU (pass breakup) is good. They don't catch the ball, but they still get another possession ... but you get that interception, you're getting that ball back to your offense and changing the game." Ward told Camryn Justice of News 5 Cleveland. "... That's the main focus, is trying to take that ball away."
Ward has never posted more than three picks in a single season, but he's done that three times. He'd like to see that number increase next season.