Denzel Ward says he's looking forward to training with Travis Hunter, who reached out to Ward months ago. Hunter is expected to be taken No. 2 overall in Thursday's first round of the NFL draft. (TheLandOnDemand)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
When it comes to Travis Hunter playing offense and cornerback at the NFL level, Denzel Ward agrees with Andrew Berry and Coach Prime.
The Browns’ $100 million, four-time Pro Bowl cornerback says Hunter should concentrate on offense first.
“I think cornerback is easier in terms of learning the playbook,” Ward said. “I think the offensive playbook is probably a little bit more difficult than a defensive playbook. But I think playing corner is more difficult than playing the receiver position.”
Ward is back in Browns headquarters with teammates for the start of the offseason conditioning program. Unlike some other selected veterans, Ward is intent on attending for the entire voluntary portion because that’s what leaders do.
Most of Ward’s press availability was devoted to questions about Hunter, Colorado’s two-way “unicorn” talent who will be the Browns’ choice with the No. 2 overall pick in Thursday’s first round -- unless they are gifted a “Godfather” trade offer that they couldn’t refuse.
While Ward said his preferred choice for the No. 2 pick would be Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to pair with Myles Garrett, Ward appreciates the special player Hunter would be if he could pull off playing wide receiver and cornerback for the Browns.
In addition to winning the Heisman Trophy, Hunter pulled off an unprecedented feat of winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award, given to college football’s most outstanding wide receiver, and the Chuck Bednarik Award, as the defensive player of the year.
Ward believes Hunter can realize his dream of playing both positions at the NFL level.
“He's an exceptional player,” Ward said. “I mean, seeing him on the field, he's able to do it in college, so I would be excited to see him do it in the NFL as well. You got to be open to seeing different things, and that would be different. It just takes one person to do it at an extremely high level. I know there's guys that play both ways here and there. I'm rooting for him.”
Ward said it would take special management of Hunter during the work week to maximize his ability to play both ways.
“I think it would have to be managed reps,” he said. “We work at different times. Like, offense is there one time, and then we [defensive backs] go off to the side, and we're working on this time. But I feel teams can manage the reps and go about it that way. I'm sure they'll come up with a game plan for it. Yeah, I think it's possible.
“I mean he did it in college. So I'm sure he did it where he went to the offensive meetings and defensive meetings. So I don't think it would be much different here. He'd probably have a similar game plan in learning the offensive playbook and defensive playbook and going to various meetings. I'm sure that would set up times to where he could learn both of them at a good rate to where he could learn to understand them. So I would think that would be similar to a plan he did in Colorado.”
Browns GM Andrew Berry has called Hunter “brilliant” for the way he was able to learn offensive and defensive gameplans at Colorado. Berry said Hunter has “rare intelligence.”
Ward doesn’t think Hunter would have trouble picking up defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s system.
“It just takes time to sit, study it like anything else, and learn it once you get out there on the field,” Ward said. “I think it's pretty easy to learn on the playbook. And as long as you're intentional about it, just getting out there and working, I don't think it's too hard.
“I think it's doable, honestly. On defense, I think we got short, code words and stuff like that that kind of lets you know what we're going to be in and what we're going to be doing. Once you get the basics of it, I mean, all those fine details will come with it, but I don't think it would be too difficult.
In March, Hunter cited Ward as a player he’d like to train with in the offseason ahead of training camp. Hunter also mentioned Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy and Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain as favorites of his.
“He reached out to me a while ago wanting to train,” Ward said. “I told him whenever you’re ready. I look forward to learning from each other, seeing what he does well. I’ll teach him some things myself,” Ward said. “I’m definitely open to working out with him.”
What about when Hunter’s on offense. Can Ward see Hunter beating him?
“Oh, no, that’s not an option. I can’t allow that,” he said with a laugh.