Ward Stays Amid Browns Changes
Browns Star Denzel Ward Commits to Cleveland, Addresses Myles Garrett Trade as ‘Crazy’
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Browns cornerback Denzel Ward said at his celebrity softball game in Eastlake that he intends to remain in Cleveland, calling Myles Garrett’s departure “a crazy trade” while insisting “things aren’t lost.” Ward reiterated his commitment to bringing wins to Cleveland amid offseason shakeups that included the dismissal of coach Kevin Stefanski and continued quarterback uncertainty. Multiple reports said Cleveland is not putting Ward on the trade block and is not conducting a broader fire sale after dealing Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for Jared Verse and draft capital. Ward, a five-time Pro Bowler and the Browns’ longest-tenured player, is signed through 2027 on a five-year, $100.5 million extension with no guaranteed money remaining before that deal ends. The Garrett trade reshaped Cleveland’s defensive outlook, but Ward and insider reports portrayed him as a leadership cornerstone rather than a movable asset as the Browns plan their next phase.
Key Points
1
Ward framed Cleveland’s offseason turbulence as an internal rallying cry, saying: “I believe that either you’re with us or against us, and as you see, he’s not with us. Crazy trade, but hey, that’s the nature of this game.”
2
Before reaching the NFL, Ward’s path is tightly tied to Ohio: he attended Nordonia High School, played at Ohio State, and was the Browns’ 2018 first-round pick (No. 4 overall).
3
Sportskeeda noted Ward’s recent production and playmaking: across 15 games last season he allowed “just 32 receptions on 54 targets for 355 yards,” and limited opponents to an “89.7 passer rating.” It also cited his career marks—“104 career passes defended” (tied for third among active NFL players) and “18 interceptions over his eight seasons.”
4
After the Garrett trade, Browns GM Andrew Berry publicly endorsed Ward’s value, saying: “He’s still playing at a really high level,” and “[Ward is] a big part of the team, and we like him a lot.”
5
Ward acknowledged the emotional and leadership impact of Garrett’s situation before the trade: he said Garrett’s Feb. 2025 trade request “had a huge impact on him,” and Ward will now play his “first NFL season…with the Browns without Garrett also on the team.”
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