Cornerback Denzel Ward just made history on the negotiation table, as he is now the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
“A new deal for Denzel: Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward and the Browns have agreed to a 2-year, $62.2M extension that makes him the highest paid DB in NFL history for the second time in his career. The deal, negotiated by Tory Dandy of @AthletesFirst , includes $52.3M guaranteed,” Rapoport shared via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.
Ward still has two years left on the five-year, $100.5 million contract extension he signed with the Browns in 2022. His new deal will take him through the 2029 NFL season. The 29-year-old Ward is perhaps set up to finish his NFL career having played for only one team, the Browns.
Cleveland took Ward fourth overall in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. The former Ohio State Buckeyes star defensive back has been a Pro Bowler four times, including in each of the last three campaigns. In the 2025 season, he appeared in 15 games and recorded an interception to go along with nine passes defended, 39 combined tackles and two tackles for loss. Additionally, Ward has two interceptions taken to the house for touchdowns thus far in his NFL career.
Ward, who led the league with 19 passes defended during the 2024 season, is also now the longest-tenured Browns player following Cleveland’s major decision to part ways with superstar pass rusher Myles Garrett via a trade with the Rams.
Cornerback Denzel Ward just made history on the negotiation table, as he is now the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. “A new deal for Denzel: Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward and the Browns have agreed to a 2-year, $62.
