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Denzel Ward has agreed to a contract extension with the Cleveland Browns that establishes him as professional football’s most highly compensated defensive back. The cornerback will receive a two-year deal valued at $62.2 million, with $52.3 million guaranteed, according to a source who spoke with The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity prior to any official announcement.
Ward’s new average compensation of $31.1 million annually exceeds the previous benchmark set by Kansas City’s Trent McDuffie. McDuffie secured a four-year, $124 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams in March following a trade from the Chiefs, which averaged $31 million per year.
The 29-year-old corner still had two remaining years on his original five-year, $100 million contract signed in 2022. A native of Macedonia, Ohio, Ward remains the Browns’ longest-tenured player following the franchise’s June trade of Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to Los Angeles.
Ward, selected fourth overall by Cleveland in the 2018 NFL draft from Ohio State, has recorded 104 passes defensed since his rookie season—a league-leading total. He registered 18 career interceptions and collected 39 tackles with one interception during last season’s 15-game campaign.
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