2018 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting every first round selection
CB. Ohio State. Denzel Ward. 18. player. 36.
The Legion of Boom hasn’t disappeared, but it has lost a step. Richard Sherman missed the tail end of the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon and the secondary as a whole is a tad bit slower than it once was. They need speed. Cornerback Denzel Ward will prove to be one of the faster prospects in the 2018 draft class.
More than just speed, Ward hails from a defensive back factory at Ohio State. The Buckeyes have produced four first round corners in the past four seasons. Ward will make that number improve to five first rounders in five years.
A second-team Big Ten selection, Ward has shared the defensive back field with Marshon Lattimore (drafted 2017, No. 11 to the New Orleans Saints) and Gareon Conley (2017, Oakland Raiders). His stat sheet might look a bit sparse when compared to some of the other defensive backs in this class, but Ward has waited his turn and has equally high expectations in the professional ranks.
Ward is a little on the shorter side, checking in at 5-foot-10, but makes up for it with incredible route recognition and ball skills. He’ll be a staple in the Seattle defensive backfield for years to come.