The Browns are now just waiting on first-round cornerback Joe Haden before getting all draft picks signed before camp opens Saturday.
UPDATED: 9:06 p.m.
Browns safety T.J. Ward agreed to terms on a four-year deal, ensuring he -- and running back Montario Hardesty, who also agreed to a contract Monday -- will be in full-squad camp on time.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns wrapped up both of their two second-round picks to four-year deals Monday, signing safety T.J. Ward and running back Montario Hardesty. Now they can focus their attention on getting their lone unsigned draftee -- first-round cornerback Joe Haden -- into full-squad camp on time.
Veterans and rookies will begin practicing Saturday in Berea, a two-a-day session that's open to the public.
The Browns announced the signing of Hardesty, the 59th overall pick out of Tennessee, but have yet confirm the signing of Ward, the 38th choice from Oregon. A league source told The Plain Dealer that Ward agreed to the four-year deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed.
Hardesty's contract is worth a maximum of $3,372,750 with $1.572 million guaranteed, including a $1 million signing bonus. The Browns thought so much of Hardesty during the draft that they traded a third-round pick and two fifth-rounders to move up to get him.
During OTAs and minicamp, Hardesty, working mostly with the first-team offense, continued to flash featured-back ability. Of course, a true test won't come until the preseason games, when full contact takes place.
"I like a lot of things about [Hardesty]," Browns coach Eric Mangini said during minicamp. "I like the fact that I don't notice him on tape and he's been running with the first group and what I mean by that is missing an assignment, lining up in the wrong spot those type of things where often times you look out and some rookie is supposed to be in one spot and he's just not even in the right galaxy.
"He's gotten a lot of reps with the [first team] and he just seems comfortable there. It doesn't faze him. He's got a great approach."
Ward, hampered by a tight muscle during minicamp, will compete for playing time with veteran safeties Abe Elam and Mike Adams. With Elam unsigned and absent, Ward and fifth-round safety Larry Asante both took reps with the first-team defense.
"When I looked at [Ward] and spent time with him, he reminded me a lot of [former Patriots safety] Lawyer Milloy," Mangini said during the draft. "He's got outstanding instincts in the running game. He can navigate through traffic and it's almost like blockers don't exist. Very rarely does he miss tackles."
Haden's agent, Malik Shareef, did not return messages, but said earlier this month that he was determined to get Haden in on time and that "it's not in anyone's best interests" for him to be late. Haden will compete for a starting job with Sheldon Brown and Eric Wright.