x
Breaking News
More () »

Cleveland Browns CB Denzel Ward's first big pro purchase: His mom's mortgage

The Browns selected the Ohio State product with the No. 4 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

CLEVELAND -- The No. 4 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward is projected to sign a contract worth more than $29 million, including a $19 million signing bonus, according to Forbes.

So what will the Ohio State product's first big purchase be now that he's a pro? A car? Jewelry? New clothes?

Not quite. In fact, Ward's first big buy as a member of the Browns was a gift for his mother.

"I actually just did something for her for Mother's Day," Ward revealed to the NFL Total Access on the NFL Network. "I'm paying for the mortgage for her house -- I'm paying her house off -- so she doesn't have to worry about that anymore."

The idea of a professional athlete paying off his parents' houses isn't anything new, although Ward's relationship with his mother is more unique than most. Ward's father, Paul Ward Jr., passed away unexpectedly during a spinning class in 2016.

Since being drafted by the Browns last month, the younger Ward, a native of Macedonia, has spoken of the inspiration he's drawn from his father, who served as the principal at Carylwood Intermediate School in Bedford.

“Since my dad passed, it was definitely a difficult situation, but the way my dad and my mom and my family raised me was to be very prideful, but I stay humble," Ward said at his introductory press conference with the Browns."That kind of carries me. Just all what he’s done in his life kind of motivates me and my family motivates me to be what I am today.”

On Mother's Day, he put those words into action.

Stream Live with fuboTV -Try Free Trial

Before You Leave, Check This Out