With the Super Bowl in the rear-view, the league has turned their attention to free agency. As teams start planning their 2026 rosters, there’s also plenty of speculation regarding who may get cut due to salary cap hits.
Among some of the players considered cap casualties, NFL reporter Matt Okada suggests a surprising name: Browns CB Denzel Ward. The former Buckeye was drafted by Cleveland in the first round of the 2018 draft, and has often been one of the bright spots for the team.
“At 29 years old, Ward may not be as elite as he once was but is still a solid corner with years left to give. The problem is the money. Ward carries a $32.9 million cap hit in 2026, highest on the team outside of Deshaun Watson, and the Browns could save $20 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut. Cleveland is $2.3 million under the cap and needs heavy improvement across all areas of the roster to work its way out of the AFC North cellar. Given what he’s meant to the team for the better part of a decade, this would be a more surprising cut, but it also might make sense as Cleveland looks to the future under new head coach Todd Monken.“
Ward is a five-time Pro Bowler, and has earned the honor the last three consecutive seasons. Through 110 games, the eight-year veteran has recorded 361 total tackles, 104 passes defended — a Cleveland franchise record —, 18 interceptions, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries. Two of his interceptions were returned for touchdowns, including a 99-yard pick-6 in 2021, and he also carried two of his fumble recoveries into the endzone — both in 2022.
He would be an instant CB2 in Philadelphia, which they’ve been looking for since the options were Adoree’ Jackson, Kelee Ringo, and Jakorian Bennett. Ward playing alongside Quinton Mitchell and Cooper DeJean would be legendary, but that’s a trio that would command a big chunk of the Eagles salary cap, and might be out of their budget. Mitchell and DeJean still have a couple years left on their rookie deals, so if Ward was okay with a shorter contract, it’s something that they could work out.
If the Cleveland Browns cut Denzel Ward, should the Eagles try to sign him?
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