Denzel Ward, Browns Agree to Historic New Contract During NFL Training Camp, Updated Salary Cap

The Cleveland Browns and cornerback Denzel Ward have agreed on a two-year extension, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The new deal will make Ward the highest-paid cornerback in the league on a per-year basis, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Ward's last contract was a five-year, $100.5 million extension that runs through 2027.

Ward did not have any guaranteed money left on his most recent extension, per Over the Cap. He was under contract for 2026 and 2027 but had void years in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

As Jason Fitzgerald of Over the Cap wrote in Jan. 2024, NFL teams can save money on the cap by extending players before their contract voids.

It's unclear just how much the Browns can or will save here. Right now, per Over the Cap, the listed cap number for Ward's contract in 2026 is $30,893,412, and the listed cap number for 2027 is $29,964,000.

At the moment, the Browns have $16 million in 2026 cap space and $32.2 million in 2027 cap space, per Over the Cap.

Right now, the Browns are listed with $97.8 million in cap space in 2028, but that number should certainly go down some with Ward's new deal.

Ward has been on the Browns for the entirety of his eight-year career. The five-time Pro Bowler, who starred at Ohio State before the Browns selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft, has been one of the best defensive backs in football during his time in the pros.

In 15 starts last season, Ward amassed 39 tackles, nine pass breakups and an interception.

The latest extension increased the possibility that Ward remains a Brown for life as Cleveland looks to start new head coach Todd Monken's era off on the right foot in 2026.