Denzel Ward

Cleveland Browns, Cornerback

Age: 28y-10m-8d (Apr 28, 1997)

Exp: 8 Years

Country: US

College: Ohio State

Drafted: Round 1 (#4 overall), 2018

Agent(s): Tory Dandy, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Football)

2026 Cap Hit

$32,893,412

2026 Cash

$20,000,000

Career Earnings

$103,425,404

2022-2027 Rookie Extension (CURRENT)

Denzel Ward signed a 5 year, $100,500,000 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including $20,000,000 signing bonus, $71,250,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $20,100,000. In 2026, Ward will earn a base salary of $16,900,000 and a roster bonus of $2,500,000, while carrying a cap hit of $32,893,412 and a dead cap value of $29,656,200.

Contract Terms:

5 yr(s) / $100,500,000

Average Salary:

$20,100,000

Signing Bonus:

$20,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$44,500,000

Total GTD:

$71,250,000

Free Agent:

2028 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2022	25		$5,035,000	2.42%	$21,035,000	$21,035,000	$26,100,000
2023	26		$12,179,822	5.42%	$22,899,822	$43,934,822	$39,465,000
2024	27		$12,138,918	4.75%	$15,958,762	$59,893,584	$54,494,000
2025	28		$14,792,211	5.30%	$14,013,917	$73,907,501	$43,883,705
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 4 YR, $73,907,501; $29,656,200 DEAD CAP
2026	29		$32,893,412	10.92%	$20,000,000	$93,907,501	$29,656,200
2027	30		$29,464,000	9.25%	$20,500,000	$114,407,501	$16,692,200
2028	31	Void UFA	$5,284,000	1.58%	-	$114,407,501	$7,728,200
2029		Void	$2,444,200	0.67%	-	$114,407,501	$2,444,200

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Proration	Restructure Proration	Roster Bonus	Active/GM Roster Bonus	Option Proration	Workout Bonus	Cap Hit	Cap % League	Dead Cap
2022	25		$1,035,000	$4,000,000	-	-	-	-	-	$5,035,000	2.42%	$26,100,000
2023	26		$4,041,000	$4,000,000	-	-	$458,822	$3,680,000	-	$12,179,822	5.42%	$39,465,000
2024	27		$1,125,000	$4,000,000	$2,839,800	-	$494,118	$3,680,000	-	$12,138,918	4.75%	$54,494,000
2025	28		$1,255,000	$4,000,000	$5,284,000	-	$564,706	$3,680,000	$8,505	$14,792,211	5.30%	$43,883,705
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 4 YR, $73,907,501; $29,656,200 DEAD CAP
2026	29		$16,900,000	$4,000,000	$5,284,000	$2,500,000	$529,412	$3,680,000	-	$32,893,412	10.92%	$29,656,200	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE Today → 03/13/2026 2026 Dead Cap: $29,656,200 2026 Cap Savings: $3,237,212 03/13/2026 → 06/01/2026 2026 Dead Cap: $32,156,200 2026 Cap Savings: $737,212 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $29,656,200 2026 Savings: $3,237,212 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2026 Dead Cap: $12,964,000 2027 Dead Cap: $16,692,200 2026 Savings: $19,929,412 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 03/13/2026 → 06/01/2026 2026 Dead Cap: $15,464,000 2027 Dead Cap: $16,692,200 2026 Cap Savings: $17,429,412 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $15,464,000 2027 Dead Cap: $16,692,200 2026 Savings: $17,429,412 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2027	30		$17,400,000	-	$5,284,000	$2,500,000	$600,000	$3,680,000	-	$29,464,000	9.25%	$16,692,200	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $16,692,200 2027 Savings: $12,771,800 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $16,692,200 2027 Savings: $12,771,800 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2027 Dead Cap: $8,964,000 2028 Dead Cap: $7,728,200 2027 Savings: $20,500,000 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $8,964,000 2028 Dead Cap: $7,728,200 2027 Savings: $20,500,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $8,964,000 2028 Dead Cap: $7,728,200 2027 Savings: $20,500,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2028	31	Void UFA	-	-	$5,284,000	-	-	-	-	$5,284,000	1.58%	$7,728,200	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $7,728,200 2028 Savings: $-2,444,200 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $7,728,200 2028 Savings: $-2,444,200 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2028 Dead Cap: $5,284,000 2029 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2028 Savings: $0 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $5,284,000 2029 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2028 Savings: $0 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $5,284,000 2029 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2028 Savings: $0 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2029		Void	-	-	$2,444,200	-	-	-	-	$2,444,200	0.67%	$2,444,200	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2029 Savings: $0 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2029 Savings: $0 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. JUNE 1ST DESIGNATION 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2029 Savings: $2,444,200 What is a June 1st Designation? When a player is designated as a Post June 1st release, their full cap hit must remain on the books until 6/1, after which the dead cap is split across the current and following season. The player becomes a free agent immediately however. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2029 Savings: $2,444,200 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Dead Cap: $2,444,200 2029 Savings: $2,444,200 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Bonus	Restructure Bonus	Roster Bonus	Active/Gm Roster Bonus	Option Bonus	Workout Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Cash Remaining
2022	25		$1,035,000	$20,000,000	-	-	-	-	-	$21,035,000	$21,035,000	$114,407,501
2023	26		$4,041,000	-	-	-	$458,822	$18,400,000	-	$22,899,822	$43,934,822	$93,372,501
2024	27		$1,125,000	-	$14,199,000	-	$564,706	-	-	$15,958,762	$59,893,584	$70,472,679
2025	28		$1,255,000	-	$12,221,000	-	$529,412	-	$8,505	$14,013,917	$73,907,501	$54,513,917
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 4 YR, $73,907,501; $29,656,200 DEAD CAP
2026	29		$16,900,000	-	-	$2,500,000	$600,000	-	-	$20,000,000	$93,907,501	$40,500,000
2027	30		$17,400,000	-	-	$2,500,000	$600,000	-	-	$20,500,000	$114,407,501	$20,500,000
2028	31	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	$114,407,501	-
2029	32	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	$114,407,501	-

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)

Source: PFT

2018-2022 Rookie

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $29,165,356

Average Salary:

$7,291,339

Signing Bonus:

$19,291,168

GTD at Sign:

$29,165,356

Total GTD:

$29,165,356

Free Agent:

2023 / UFA

To see the rest of the Denzel Ward's contract breakdowns, & gain access to all of Spotrac's Premium tools, sign up today. Already Subscribed? Login Here

Seasons

8 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$103,425,404

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Awards
2018	21	Active	$19,771,168	$19,771,168
2019	22	Active	$1,832,658	$21,603,826
2020	23	Active	$3,286,983	$24,890,809
2021	24	Reserve	$4,627,094	$29,517,903
2022	25	Active	$21,035,000	$50,552,903
2023	26	Active	$22,899,822	$73,452,725	Afc Pro Bowl:CB
2024	27	Active	$15,958,762	$89,411,487	Afc Pro Bowl:CB
2025	28	Active	$14,013,917	$103,425,404	Afc Pro Bowl:CB
Total			$103,425,404	$103,425,404
2026	29	Active	$20,000,000
2027	30	Active	$20,500,000
Total			$143,925,404

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
8		$11,411,698	$39,291,168	$6,178,490	$26,420,000	$8,505	$162,603	$103,425,404

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Workout	Incentives	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2018	21	$480,000	$19,291,168						$19,771,168	$19,771,168
2019	22	$1,805,698						$26,960	$1,832,658	$21,603,826
2020	23	$750,000			$2,471,396			$65,587	$3,286,983	$24,890,809
2021	24	$920,000			$3,707,094				$4,627,094	$29,517,903
2022	25	$1,035,000	$20,000,000						$21,035,000	$50,552,903
2023	26	$4,041,000				$18,400,000			$22,899,822	$73,452,725
2024	27	$1,125,000		$14,199,000				$70,056	$15,958,762	$89,411,487
2025	28	$1,255,000		$12,221,000			$8,505		$14,013,917	$103,425,404
Total		$11,411,698	$39,291,168	$26,420,000	$6,178,490	$18,400,000	$8,505	$162,603	$103,425,404	$103,425,404
2026	29	$16,900,000			$2,500,000				$20,000,000
2027	30	$17,400,000			$2,500,000				$20,500,000
Total		$45,711,698	$39,291,168	$26,420,000	$11,178,490	$18,400,000	$8,505	$162,603	$143,925,404

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
8		$11,411,698	$39,291,168	$6,178,490	$26,420,000	$8,505	$162,603	$103,425,404

Injuries

Year		Weeks	Reason
2021	CLE	18 - 18	COVID-19
2020	CLE	17 - 17	COVID-19

Aug 27, 2025 Converted $12.221M of 2025 salary into signing bonus, adding 1 void year creating $9.77M of cap with Cleveland (CLE)
Feb 28, 2024 Converted $14.199M of base salary into signing bonus, adding 1 void year, clearing $11,359,200 of cap with Cleveland (CLE)
Oct 07, 2022 Fined $10,609 Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL)
Apr 18, 2022 Signed a 5 year $100.5 million contract extension with Cleveland (CLE)
Apr 23, 2021 Cleveland (CLE) exercised a $13.294 million option for 2022
Nov 22, 2019 Fined $3,507 Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT)
Jul 25, 2018 Signed a 4 year $29.1 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)
Apr 26, 2018 Drafted by Cleveland (CLE): Round 1 (#4 overall)

Fines

Date	Reason	Fine Amount
Oct 07, 2022	Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL)	$10,609
Nov 22, 2019	Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT)	$3,507
Fines: 2		$14,116

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%	Sack	Tackles Total	Tackles Solo	Tackles Assisted	FFum	Int
2025	CLE	15	15	779	71.93	0	39	29	10	0	1
2024	CLE	16	16	759	64.27	0	49	41	8	1	2
2023	CLE	13	10	622	50.16	0	34	30	4	1	2
2022	CLE	14	14	748	63.82	0	53	42	11	0	3
2021	CLE	15	15	856	77.33	1	43	34	9	0	3
2020	CLE	12	12	775	73.04	0	46	38	8	1	2
2019	CLE	12	12	767	70.50	0	44	38	6	0	2
2018	CLE	13	12	841	71.40	0	53	41	12	1	3

TRANSACTIONS

Aug 27, 2025

Converted $12.221M of 2025 salary into signing bonus, adding 1 void year creating $9.77M of cap with Cleveland (CLE)

Feb 28, 2024

Converted $14.199M of base salary into signing bonus, adding 1 void year, clearing $11,359,200 of cap with Cleveland (CLE)

Oct 07, 2022

Fined $10,609 Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL)

Apr 18, 2022

Signed a 5 year $100.5 million contract extension with Cleveland (CLE)

Apr 23, 2021

Cleveland (CLE) exercised a $13.294 million option for 2022

Nov 22, 2019

Fined $3,507 Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT)

Jul 25, 2018

Signed a 4 year $29.1 million contract with Cleveland (CLE)

Apr 26, 2018

Drafted by Cleveland (CLE): Round 1 (#4 overall)

TRENDING PLAYERS

1 Danielle Hunter (DE, HOU)
2 D.J. Moore (WR, BUF)
3 Tremaine Edmunds (ILB, CHI)
4 Maxx Crosby (DE, LV)
5 Stefon Diggs (WR, NE)
6 Drew Dalman (C, CHI)
7 A.J. Brown (WR, PHI)
8 Dayo Odeyingbo (DE, CHI)
9 Kyler Murray (QB, ARI)
10 Tyler Higbee (TE, LAR)
11 Tua Tagovailoa (QB, MIA)
12 Zaire Franklin (ILB, IND)
13 Myles Garrett (DE, CLE)
14 Trey Hendrickson (DE, CIN)
15 Trent McDuffie (CB, LAR)

TRENDING PAGES

1 2026 NFL Free Agents
2 NFL Transactions
3 NFL Cap Tracker
4 Chicago Bears Cap
5 NFL Contracts

TRENDING PAGES

2026 NFL Free Agents

NFL Transactions

NFL Cap Tracker

TRENDING PLAYERS

Danielle Hunter (DE, HOU)

D.J. Moore (WR, BUF)

Tremaine Edmunds (ILB, CHI)

HOME

PREMIUM SIGN IN

NEWS

PODCASTS

Denzel Ward

2026 Cap Hit

2026 Cash

Career Earnings

2022-2027 Rookie Extension (CURRENT)

2018-2022 Rookie

Seasons

Career Earnings thru 2026

Earnings w/ Different Teams

Earnings Per Year

Earnings Per Team

Earnings Per Team

Injuries

Fines

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

Potential Next-Man-Up NFL Contract Candidates

TRANSACTIONS

Aug 27, 2025

Feb 28, 2024

Oct 07, 2022

Apr 18, 2022

Apr 23, 2021

Nov 22, 2019

Jul 25, 2018

Apr 26, 2018

TRENDING PLAYERS

TRENDING PAGES

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East

NFC North

NFC South

NFC West

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

Atlantic

Central

Southeast

Northwest

Pacific

Southwest

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

AL East

AL Central

AL West

NL East

NL Central

NL West

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

Atlantic

Metropolitan

Central

Pacific

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

Eastern

Western

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

Eastern

Western

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

Trending Players

Home

Popular Pages

Trending Players

Home

Teams

Popular Pages

Transactions

AFC East

AFC North

AFC South

AFC West

NFC East