Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns agree to 2-year contract extension
· Yahoo Sports
This story has been updated with more details.
Cornerback Denzel Ward's name had been bantied about throughout the last couple of months as a potential trade piece for the Browns. You can, at least for now, put all of that talk to the side.
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The five-time Pro Bowler Ward and the Browns agreed to a two-year extension worth up to $62.2 million, a league source confirmed for the Beacon Journal. That deal includes $52.3 million in guaranteed money.
The extension makes Ward, a Nordonia High School and Ohio State University produc, the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. It's the second time in his career he's had that designation.
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Ward's extension ends any remaining talk about him potentially being moved, talk which had arisen after the Browns dealt future Hall of Famer Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams June 1. Browns general manager Andrew Berry, though, had been steadfast in his desire to keep Ward with the team even after the Garrett trade.
Ward also made it clear he wanted to remain in Cleveland. He said as much when he spoke to a small group of reporters at his charity softball game the same week Garrett was traded.
"I definitely still want to be here," Ward said June 6. "Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate but things aren't lost. It's Ohio against the world, so people could doubt us but we going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to this city."
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns agree to 2-year contract extension