NFL Draft: 2018 Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

2018 NFL Draft: Round 1 mock after flurry of NFL trade deadline deals

CHICAGO, IL - APRIL 28: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell annonces DeForest Buckner of Oregon as the #7 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers during the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University on April 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 7: Denzel Ward #12 of the Ohio State Buckeyes hits Taivon Jacobs #12 of the Maryland Terrapins after a reception in the first quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 7, 2017 in Columbus, Ohio. Ward was ejected from the game after being assessed a targeting penalty for the hit. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

53. . Cornerback. Ohio State. Denzel Ward. 13. player

The Browns’ second of two first-round draft picks should focus on the defense.

Cleveland let go of veteran cornerback Joe Haden earlier this season, which has created a notable void in the secondary. Up front, the Browns have shown some improvement, but the back end needs an established playmaker capable of shutting down opponents’ No. 1 receiving targets.

Ohio State’s Denzel Ward has the talent to be a true cover corner. The 5-foot-10, 191-pound prospect has the ability to operate either in nickel or in two-wide packages to the outside.

That kind of flexibility is something Cleveland needs right now.