Denzel Ward

Cleveland Browns, Cornerback
Age: 27-213d (Apr 28, 1997)
Exp: 6 Years
Country: US
College: Ohio State
Drafted: Round 1 (#4 overall), 2018
Agent(s): Tory Dandy, Jimmy Sexton (CAA Football)
2024 Cap Hit

$12,138,918

2024 Cash

$15,924,000

Career Earnings

$89,376,725

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 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 $12,138,918 and a dead cap value of $54,494,000.
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% $15,924,000 $59,858,822 $54,494,000
2025 28 $24,595,800 9.00% $14,076,000 $73,934,822 $42,849,200
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 4 YR, $73,934,822; $19,879,400 DEAD CAP
2026 29 $30,519,800 10.44% $20,000,000 $93,934,822 $19,879,400
2027 30 $27,019,800 8.64% $20,500,000 $114,434,822 $9,359,600
2028 31
Void
UFA
 $2,839,800 0.85% - $114,434,822 $2,839,800
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Restructure Proration Roster Bonus Roster/Gm Bonus Option Proration Cap Hit Cap % League Cap 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 $13,476,000 $4,000,000 $2,839,800 - $600,000 $3,680,000 $24,595,800 9.00% $42,849,200
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 4 YR, $73,934,822; $19,879,400 DEAD CAP
2026 29 $16,900,000 $4,000,000 $2,839,800 $2,500,000 $600,000 $3,680,000 $30,519,800 10.44% $19,879,400
2027 30 $17,400,000 - $2,839,800 $2,500,000 $600,000 $3,680,000 $27,019,800 8.64% $9,359,600
2028 31
Void
UFA
 - - $2,839,800 - - - $2,839,800 0.85% $2,839,800
Year Age Status Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Restructure Bonus Roster Bonus Option Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative AYC Cumulative AYC Remaining
2022 25 $1,035,000 $20,000,000 - - - $21,035,000 $21,035,000 $21,035,000 $19,072,470
2023 26 $4,041,000 - - - $18,400,000 $22,899,822 $43,934,822 $21,967,411 $18,679,964
2024 27 $1,125,000 - $14,199,000 - - $15,924,000 $59,858,822 $19,952,941 $17,625,000
2025 28 $13,476,000 - - - - $14,076,000 $73,934,822 $18,483,706 $18,192,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2026, 4 YR, $73,934,822; $19,879,400 DEAD CAP
2026 29 $16,900,000 - - $2,500,000 - $20,000,000 $93,934,822 $18,786,964 $20,250,000
2027 30 $17,400,000 - - $2,500,000 - $20,500,000 $114,434,822 $19,072,470 $20,500,000
2028 31
Void
 - - - - - - $114,434,822 - -
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

Denzel Ward signed a 4 year , $29,165,356 contract with the Cleveland Browns, including $19,291,168 signing bonus, $29,165,356 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $7,291,339.
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
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Seasons

6 Years

Career Earnings thru 2024

$89,376,725

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) 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
$15,924,000
$89,376,725
Total      
$89,376,725
$89,376,725
2025 28
Active
$14,076,000
2026 29
Active
$20,000,000
2027 30
Active
$20,500,000
Total
$143,952,725

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $10,156,698 $39,291,168 $6,178,490 $14,199,000 - $92,547 $89,376,725
Year Team(s) 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
$15,924,000
$89,376,725
Total
$10,156,698
$39,291,168
$14,199,000
$6,178,490
$18,400,000
$92,547
$89,376,725
$89,376,725
2025
28
$13,476,000
$14,076,000
2026
29
$16,900,000
$2,500,000
$20,000,000
2027
30
$17,400,000
$2,500,000
$20,500,000
Total
$57,932,698
$39,291,168
$14,199,000
$11,178,490
$18,400,000
$92,547
$143,952,725

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
7 $10,156,698 $39,291,168 $6,178,490 $14,199,000 - $92,547 $89,376,725

Injuries

Year Weeks Reason
2020 CLE 17 - 17 COVID-19
2021 CLE 18 - 18 COVID-19
  • 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
Nov 22, 2019 Entering the field for a fight against Pittsburgh (PIT) $3,507
Oct 07, 2022 Excessive Face Mask against Atlanta (ATL) $10,609
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps% Sack Tackles Total Tackles Solo Tackles Assisted FFum Int
2024 CLE 10 10 419 67.60 0 20 17 3 1 1
2023 CLE 13 10 622 58.70 0 34 30 4 1 2
2022 CLE 14 14 748 68.70 0 53 42 11 0 3
2021 CLE 15 15 856 76.60 1 43 34 9 0 3
2020 CLE 12 12 775 72.00 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

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TRANSACTIONS

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)

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