Pro Bowler Denzel Ward became one of the first Cleveland Browns players to react to Todd Monken being announced as the team's new head coach
The initial reaction to Todd Monken being selected as the newest head coach of the Cleveland Browns was, well, lackluster.
However, the move has gained more positive momentum in the days since it was announced, with plenty of people admiring the 59-year-old's offenses in Baltimore these last three years.
At least one star Browns' player has joined the wave of excitement for Monken, as Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward shared his first reaction to the hire.
"From what I've heard, just his development of the offense and how he's able to pick those guys up and enhance guys' games," Ward said during an appearance on ESPN's NFL Live. "I think I've seen some stats on how he's helped Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and they had some of their best seasons under Todd Monken.
"I'm just looking forward to us having an amazing offense. We kinda struggled on that end of the field when we were out there during the season, but just looking forward to playing better, and all of us playing better together. And looking forward to him being our new head coach."
Ward's assessment is valid. With Monken as his offensive coordinator in Baltimore, Jackson won the second MVP in 2023, establishing new career highs in yards and completion percentage. He nearly won a third in 2024, where he shattered numerous career marks again, including touchdowns, where he tossed 41 of them.
Derrick Henry posted a renaissance season in his first year with Monken in 2024, racking up 1,921 yards and a whopping 16 touchdowns. He matched that touchdown total this past season as well, rushing for just under 1,600 yards.
Meanwhile, the Ravens rushing attack was the best in football during Monken's first two seasons as OC. This past year, it was second, only behind Buffalo.
There is a lot of potential upside that Monken could bring to a Browns offense desperate for an identity. Even an average offense would go a long way in helping support Ward and the defense.
While Ward provided one of the first internal reactions to the Monken hire, it remains to be seen how the rest of his teammates feel about it.
Star defensive end Myles Garrett seemed to express some frustrations over the decision when he posted a popular meme of an exhausted Popeyes worker on his Instagram story late Wednesday night.
That may have had more to do with the team potentially losing defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, though, than with his belief in Monken overall.
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