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By Cameron Kiszla
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The Cleveland Browns reached an agreement on a contract extension with cornerback Denzel Ward on Tuesday, making him the highest paid defensive back in football.
The deal, reported by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, is for two years and $62.2 million, including $52.3 million guaranteed.
As Schefter pointed out, it's the second time Ward has become the highest-paid DB in league history.
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He previously was highest-paid after his $100.5-million extension in 2022, as reported by Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.
He also passes Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie, who was made the highest-paid DB in history earlier this offseason.
The difference is relatively small, though, with Ward's $31.1 million per year just edging out McDuffie at $31 million per year.
Why Denzel Ward Is Worth the Money
Ward continues to lead the cornerback market in value, meeting high expectations with high results.
He came to Ohio State as a blue-chip prospect and played as a true freshman before becoming a consensus All-American in 2017, his junior year and the final season he played for the Buckeyes.
He was drafted fourth overall in 2018, the first defensive back off the board.
Since then, he's spent his whole career with the Browns. He's made five Pro Bowls, including his rookie campaign in 2018 and the past three straight.
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He also has 18 interceptions, averaging about three per season, and has scored four defensive touchdowns.
That kind of consistent production is much sought-after by every NFL team, and the Browns may be leaning on Ward more than other teams might.
In the offseason, the Browns traded superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.
Though the Browns got talented youngster Jared Verse and draft picks in the exchange, they'll surely miss Garrett's veteran leadership.
Having an experienced player like Ward in the defensive backfield could be a huge help for Cleveland as they work to retool their defense, which has alternated between elite and middling over the past four seasons, including the No. 1 overall defense in 2023, the last time they participated in the postseason.
After the Garrett trade, Ward told ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi that he "definitely" wanted to remain in Cleveland.
"Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren't lost," he said. "It's Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we're going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city."
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