Denzel Ward

Cleveland Browns, Cornerback
Age: 27-214d (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
Spotrac Premium Tools
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

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

FEATURED PLAYER NEWS

News image
NFL 2025 Roster Bubble Candidates

Spotrac’s annual NFL Roster Bubble report identifies players that have the potential to be released, traded, or retire after the current 2024 season, including notable financial ramifications for each.

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)

TRENDING PLAYERS

  • 1 Daniel Jones (QB, NYG)
  • 2 Aaron Rodgers (QB, NYJ)
  • 3 Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
  • 4 Tommy DeVito (QB, NYG)
  • 5 Drew Lock (QB, NYG)

TRENDING PAGES

  • 1 NFL Free Agents
  • 2 NFL Salary Rankings
  • 3 NFL Transactions
  • 4 NFL Contracts
  • 5 NFL Colleges
Top