Browns Sign CB Denzel Ward To $100.5M Contract Extension

CLEVELAND, OH —The Cleveland Browns have signed their standout cornerback Denzel Ward to a five-year, $100.5 million contract extension, according to the Associated Press.

Although the Browns have not officially announced the signing, the AP reports that the deal runs through the 2027 season and, critically, includes $71.25 million in guaranteed money.

Ward, 24, is a Macedonia, Ohio, native who played at Ohio State. The No. 4 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Ward has been a Pro Bowler in two of his four seasons in Cleveland, including last fall.

In 52 career games with the Browns, 51 of them starts, Ward has 10 interceptions, 186 tackles, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

"Loss of words, I'm blessed," Ward wrote Monday afternoon on Twitter. "I want to thank the Haslams, JW Johnson, Andrew Berry, coach Stefanski and the rest of the browns organization for continuing to believe in the home grown kid and allowing me to represent this organization and city of Cleveland where I'm from."

According to the AP, the new deal means Ward will become the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL, with an average salary of $20.1 million a year. That surpasses the $20 million deal for Los Angeles Rams' cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Ramsey c0ngratulated Ward on social media.

"I been waiting on somebody else to touch that 100 club & you DEFINITELY DESERVE IT" Ramsey wrote on Twitter Monday afternoon.

In addition to his on-the-field contributions, Ward has made an impact in the community. He was the Browns' Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner last season and he started the "Make Them Know Your Name Foundation" to positively impact the heart disease epidemic and help prevent heart-related fatalities.

The foundation was created in honor of Ward's father Paul, who passed away unexpectedly in 2016 due to cardiac arrest.

According to ESPN football analyst Adam Shefter, the $71.25 the Browns have promised Ward and the $230 million guaranteed to new quarterback Deshaun Watson, means Cleveland is by far the biggest spender in NFL this offseason.

"The Browns have spent $340.5 million in guaranteed money this offseason ... nearly $100 million more than any other team," Schefter wrote on Twitter.