Denzel Ward becomes highest-paid defensive back in NFL history after contract extension

[p]Heading into the 2026 season, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ward-denzel/vVlYneFs/"]Ward[/a], 29, had two years left on an initial five-year, $100.5 contract extension. That was signed in 2022, but it did not have any guaranteed money.[/p][p]Ward, who is currently the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/cleveland-browns/KfzTWqa1/"]Browns[/a]' longest-tenured player, will become the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history for the second time in his career. In total, he will take home $31.1 million annually.[/p][p]Per ESPN, his annual average salary will pass cornerback [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcduffie-trent/v7qIyWGf/"]Trent McDuffie[/a] of the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/los-angeles-rams/z7hZioyR/"]Los Angeles Rams[/a] ($31 million), who had joined the Rams from the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/kansas-city-chiefs/vienoNr7/"]Kansas City Chiefs[/a] in March and signed a four-year, $124 million extension.[/p][embed guid="e3308f81-f95c-446d-9a6a-107c33683df4" url="https://x.com/NFL/status/2082219744363737576?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]The other defensive players with the highest salary include the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gardner-sauce/YymgSqOa/"]Sauce Gardner[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/indianapolis-colts/OOp2WPqe/"]Indianapolis Coltes[/a], $30.1 million), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/stingley-derek/On51Uvho/"]Derek Stingley[/a] Jr ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/houston-texans/SIj9q2Q7/"]Houston Texans[/a], $30 million), and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/horn-jaycee/tAGH8MGp/"]Jaycee Horn[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/carolina-panthers/IoAX6qmR/"]Carolina Panthers[/a], $25 million), according to ESPN.[/p][p]Ward was picked fourth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has 361 career tackles, 18 interceptions - two being returned for touchdowns - 104 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries (two being converted into touchdowns) from 110 regular-season matchups for the Browns. He started 107 of those games.[/p][p]He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.[/p]