2010 NFL Draft: T.J. Ward Is a Cleveland Brown

T.J. Ward is the Browns new safety, not Taylor Mays.

Colt McCoy wasn’t the Browns' second-round pick, either.

In what can only be described as a “Huh?!?!?” move, the Browns front office team of Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert chose Ward over higher-rated prospects, including the safety position.

Ward is 5’11”, 211 pounds, and is viewed by some draft scouts as being highly athletic but lacking in “elite” speed, and projects better for run coverage.

The Browns needed a new safety, but with Mays on the board, Ward may be seen as a bit of a reach, as he was mocked to go much lower.

Reaching for players in the second round seems to be a bit of a habit, though, no matter who is in charge of the Cleveland Browns draft. Last year, it was Eric Mangini reaching for Brian Robiskie and David Veikune.

This pick is sure to set off huge debates throughout the fan base, because McCoy and Mays were still on the board.

“It was something we had to do...to make the team better,” said Holmgren on ESPN shortly after the pick.

The first three rounds are very important to build up the core of the team, Holmgren explained. “We have to improve. I’m very excited about the future of the Cleveland Browns.”

Holmgren stuck to his line of saying the Browns won’t pick a quarterback until the later rounds, which would be the fifth round at this point, since the Browns no longer have a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft.

The bottom line at this point is the Browns needed a safety.

It wasn’t the safety the fans were all thinking, or hoping the Browns would take, but Ward is the pick. We’ll see how far of a reach he was by the end of the 2010 season.

Review of the Montario Hardesty Pick here.