Lockdown specialist Denzel Ward and the "underrated" Tyson Campbell are stifling quarterbacks in training camp. But can the Cleveland Browns' CB duo prove they're the best pairing in the league?
Denzel Ward is one of the top cornerbacks in football, so much so that his own peers voted him as the 87th best player in the NFL in the annual top-100 ranking.
That's something the man who lines up opposite of Ward, Tyson Campbell, was not afforded. Campbell joined Cleveland via a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars, early last season, leaving a franchise where his playing style was no longer a fit, for onw where he was a perfect fit in the Browns man-heavy scheme.
And while Campbell may still be earning the respect of his peers in the NFL, inside the Browns facility, it's not lost on general manager Andrew Berry how good Campbell can be. Just last week, he told ESPN's Kevin Clark that Campbell is the "most underrated player on the team."
That's notable praise from one of the team's top executives. Campbell isn't here to dispute it; he's just focused on doing his job.
"I mean, that's up to everybody else. I always consider myself the best and, you know, try to operate that way. I know everybody's entitled to their own opinion and whatnot, but I just try to focus on my job and be the best corner I could be."
Campbell's partner in crime, generally takes a similar approach to his game. Ward rarely has to politic for himself publicly as one of the game's best corners. He lets his play do the talking. Which is probably why, together the Browns CB duo is flying under the radar.
Last year, Ward and Campbell graded out 25th and 26th, respectively for their man coverage ability, among defensive backs who played at least 50% of qualifying snaps. For what it's worth, Denver, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Seattle and the Los Angeles Chargers all had 2 players rank in the top 26.
Over two weeks into training camp, though, the Browns' starting corners look comfortable and dominant as ever. As the Browns got through a QB competition, Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson have largely chosen not to bother testing Ward's side of the field. On two of the very few times they have, Ward came away with interceptions.
The QBs haven't found much success throwing to Campbell's side of the field either. Campbell and Ward look poised to make a case for being the top cornerback duo in the game.
"I think so," Campbell said when asked if they deserved that title. "You know, the way we come to work each day, trying to get better, try to help each other get better each day, I think we could be the best duo in the league. But you gotta continue to put the work in and let the play do the talking."
This year, there's no awkward adjustment period for Campbell, getting acclimated to his new surroundings after a mid-season trade. He's here. Ward's future is clear too, after getting a contract extension on the eve of training camp a few weeks back.
The rest of the league should beware.
