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Current Contract
Denzel Ward signed a 5 year, $100,500,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including a $20,000,000 signing bonus, $71,250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $20,100,000. In 2024, Ward will earn a base salary of $1,125,000 and a restructure bonus of $14,199,000, while carrying a cap hit of $12,103,622 and a dead cap value of $54,494,000.Contract: 5 yr(s) / $100,500,000 Signing Bonus $20,000,000 Average Salary $20,100,000 Total Guarantees $71,250,000 Guaranteed at Signing $44,500,000 Free Agent: 2028 / UFA Bonus Breakdown Cap Details Cash Details Year Age Base Salary Signing Roster Roster/Gm Option Restructure Cap Hit Dead Cap Yearly Cash Cash AAV 2022 25 $1,035,000 $4,000,000 - - - - $5,035,000 $26,100,000 $21,035,000($21,035,000) $21,035,000 Pre-6/1 Release 2022 Dead Cap: $26,100,000 2022 Cap Savings: $-21,065,000 Pre-6/1 Trade 2022 Dead Cap: $20,000,000 2022 Cap Savings: $-14,965,000 Post-6/1 Release 2022 Dead Cap: $10,100,000 2023 Dead Cap: $16,000,000 2022 Cap Savings: $-5,065,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2022 Dead Cap: $4,000,000 2023 Dead Cap: $16,000,000 2022 Cap Savings: $1,035,000 2023 26 $4,041,000 $4,000,000 - $458,822 $3,680,000 - $12,179,822 $39,465,000 $22,899,822($43,934,822) $21,967,411 Pre-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $39,465,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-27,285,178 Pre-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $34,400,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-22,220,178 Post-6/1 Release 2023 Dead Cap: $12,745,000 2024 Dead Cap: $26,720,000 2023 Cap Savings: $-565,178 Post-6/1 Trade 2023 Dead Cap: $7,680,000 2024 Dead Cap: $26,720,000 2023 Cap Savings: $4,499,822 2024 27 $1,125,000 $4,000,000 - $458,822 $3,680,000 $2,839,800 $12,103,622 $54,494,000 $15,924,000($59,858,822) $19,952,941 Pre-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $54,494,000 2024 Cap Savings: $-42,390,378 Pre-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $40,919,000 2024 Cap Savings: $-28,815,378 Post-6/1 Release 2024 Dead Cap: $24,094,800 2025 Dead Cap: $30,399,200 2024 Cap Savings: $-11,991,178 Post-6/1 Trade 2024 Dead Cap: $10,519,800 2025 Dead Cap: $30,399,200 2024 Cap Savings: $1,583,822 2025 28 $13,476,000 $4,000,000 - $600,000 $3,680,000 $2,839,800 $24,595,800 $42,849,200 $14,076,000($73,934,822) $18,483,706 Pre-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $42,849,200 2025 Cap Savings: $-18,253,400 Pre-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $30,399,200 2025 Cap Savings: $-5,803,400 Post-6/1 Release 2025 Dead Cap: $22,969,800 2026 Dead Cap: $19,879,400 2025 Cap Savings: $1,626,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2025 Dead Cap: $10,519,800 2026 Dead Cap: $19,879,400 2025 Cap Savings: $14,076,000 Potential Out: 2026, 4 yr, $73,934,822; $19,879,400 dead cap
2026 29 $16,900,000 $4,000,000 $2,500,000 $600,000 $3,680,000 $2,839,800 $30,519,800 $19,879,400 $20,000,000($93,934,822) $18,786,964 Pre-6/1 Release 2026 Dead Cap: $19,879,400 2026 Cap Savings: $10,640,400 Pre-6/1 Trade 2026 Dead Cap: $19,879,400 2026 Cap Savings: $10,640,400 Post-6/1 Release 2026 Dead Cap: $10,519,800 2027 Dead Cap: $9,359,600 2026 Cap Savings: $20,000,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2026 Dead Cap: $10,519,800 2027 Dead Cap: $9,359,600 2026 Cap Savings: $20,000,000 2027 30 $17,400,000 - $2,500,000 $600,000 $3,680,000 $2,839,800 $27,019,800 $9,359,600 $20,500,000($114,434,822) $19,072,470 Pre-6/1 Release 2027 Dead Cap: $9,359,600 2027 Cap Savings: $17,660,200 Pre-6/1 Trade 2027 Dead Cap: $9,359,600 2027 Cap Savings: $17,660,200 Post-6/1 Release 2027 Dead Cap: $6,519,800 2028 Dead Cap: $2,839,800 2027 Cap Savings: $20,500,000 Post-6/1 Trade 2027 Dead Cap: $6,519,800 2028 Dead Cap: $2,839,800 2027 Cap Savings: $20,500,000 2028 31 - - - - - $2,839,800 $2,839,800 $2,839,800 - Pre-6/1 Release 2028 Dead Cap: $2,839,800 2028 Cap Savings: $0 Pre-6/1 Trade 2028 Dead Cap: $2,839,800 2028 Cap Savings: $0 Post-6/1 Release 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $2,839,800 2028 Cap Savings: $2,839,800 Post-6/1 Trade 2028 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Dead Cap: $2,839,800 2028 Cap Savings: $2,839,800 2028 32 UFA Contract Notes:- $44.5M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2022 salary + 2023 salary + 2023 option bonus + $1.024M of 2024 salary)
- Remaining $14.3M of 2024 salary fully guarantees 3/17/2023 (injury guaranteed at signing)
- $12.45M of 2025 salary fully guarantees 3/15/2024
- 2023 Option Bonus: $18.4M (guaranteed)
- 2026 Roster Bonus: $2.5M (3rd league day of 2026)
- 2027 Roster Bonus: $2.5M (3rd league day of 2027)
- Per Game Active Bonus: $35,294 ($600,0000. 13 LTBE in 2023)
Contract Source: PFT
Previous Contracts
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2018-2022Entry Level
Denzel Ward signed a 4 year, $29,165,356 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including a $19,291,168 signing bonus, $29,165,356 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,291,339. In 2024, Ward will earn a base salary of $1,125,000 and a restructure bonus of $14,199,000, while carrying a cap hit of $12,103,622 and a dead cap value of $54,494,000.Contract: 4 yr(s) / $29,165,356 Signing Bonus $19,291,168 Average Salary $7,291,339 Total Guarantees $29,165,356 Guaranteed at Signing $29,165,356 Free Agent: 2023 / UFA -
Estimated Career Earnings
Year Team Awards Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Earnings 2018 $480,000 $19,291,168 - - - - - $19,771,168 2019 $1,805,698 - - - - - $26,960 $1,832,658 2020 $750,000 - $2,471,396 - - - $65,587 $3,286,983 2021 $920,000 - $3,707,094 - - - - $4,627,094 2022 $1,035,000 $20,000,000 - - - - - $21,035,000 2023 AFC PRO BOWL:CB $4,041,000 - - - - $18,400,000 - $22,899,822 6 seasons $9,031,698 $39,291,168 $6,178,490 - - $18,400,000 $92,547 $73,452,725 2024 $1,125,000 - - - $14,199,000 - - $15,924,000 2025 $13,476,000 - - - - - - $14,076,000 2026 $16,900,000 - $2,500,000 - - - - $20,000,000 2027 $17,400,000 - $2,500,000 - - - - $20,500,000 $57,932,698 $39,291,168 $11,178,490 - $14,199,000 $18,400,000 $92,547 $143,952,725 Seasons Team Salary Signing Bonus Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Restructure Bonus Option Bonus Incentive Total Cash 6 seasons $9,031,698 $39,291,168 $6,178,490 - - $18,400,000 $92,547 $73,452,725 -
Fines
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10/07/2022, $10,609
Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL)
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11/22/2019, $3,507
Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT)
TOTAL: $14,116
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10/07/2022, $10,609
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Transactions
Feb 28 2024Converted $14.199M of base salary into signing bonus, adding 1 void year, clearing $11,359,200 of cap with Cleveland (CLE)Oct 7 2022Fined $10,609 Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL)Apr 18 2022Signed a 5 year $100.5 million contract extension with Cleveland (CLE)Apr 23 2021Cleveland (CLE) exercised a $13.294 million option for 2022Nov 22 2019Fined $3,507 Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT)Jul 25 2018Signed a 4 year $29.1 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)Apr 26 2018Drafted by Cleveland (CLE): Round 1 (#4 overall) -
2024 Player Rankings
A visual look at how Denzel Ward ranks across the league, conference, division, and team.
Cap Hit ($0) Rank NFL: # Cleveland Browns: # Cornerback: #
Total Cash ($0) Rank NFL: # Cornerback: #
Average Annual ($0) Rank NFL: # Cornerback: # -
Statistics
Season Team GA GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sacks Tackles Solo Tackles Ast Tackles FF INT 2023 CLE 13 13 10 622 62.4 34 30 4 1 2 2022 CLE 14 14 14 748 77.7 53 42 11 3 2021 CLE 15 15 15 856 76.6 0.5 43 34 9 3 2020 CLE 12 12 12 775 72.0 46 38 8 1 2 2019 CLE 12 12 12 767 70.5 44 38 6 2 2018 CLE 13 13 12 841 71.4 53 41 12 1 3 Totals 79 79 75 4,609 - 1 273 223 50 3 15