Denzel Ward

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Browns, CB Age: 26-332d Exp: 5 Years
Drafted: Round 1 (#4 overall), 2018 College: Ohio State Agent(s): Tory Dandy, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Sports)

 
  • 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Contract details by year 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 Free Agent Year 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)

    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 Player Cash Earnings $480,000 $19,291,168 - - - - - $19,771,168
    2019 Player Cash Earnings $1,805,698 - - - - - $26,960 $1,832,658
    2020 Player Cash Earnings $750,000 - $2,471,396 - - - $65,587 $3,286,983
    2021 Player Cash Earnings $920,000 - $3,707,094 - - - - $4,627,094
    2022 Player Cash Earnings $1,035,000 $20,000,000 - - - - - $21,035,000
    2023 Player Cash Earnings 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 Player Cash Earnings $1,125,000 - - - $14,199,000 - - $15,924,000
    2025 Player Cash Earnings $13,476,000 - - - - - - $14,076,000
    2026 Player Cash Earnings $16,900,000 - $2,500,000 - - - - $20,000,000
    2027 Player Cash Earnings $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 Player Cash Earnings $9,031,698 $39,291,168 $6,178,490 - - $18,400,000 $92,547 $73,452,725
  • Fines

    • Player contract details by year 10/07/2022, $10,609

      Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL)


    • Player contract details by year 11/22/2019, $3,507

      Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT)


    • TOTAL: $14,116

  • 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 2022
    Nov 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