Shutdown cornerbacks are a dime a dozen at times. Scheme plays a big role, but some players defy schemes and are elite on talent alone. Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward fits that mold. Ward has been underrated his entire career, and if he'd played in a bigger market or on a more successful team, he would be held in much higher regard. That might be why ESPN isn't a huge fan of his extension. Seth Walder of ESPN highlighted ten "interesting" extensions handed out this offseason, and he tabbed the Ward deal on this list. Walder viewed the extension as an "unforced error":
Ward is still well-respected and ranked seventh among cornerbacks in Fowler's survey of coaches and executives on the best players at each position. But Ward's Next Gen Stats coverage numbers took a nosedive in 2024, as he allowed 1.8 yards per coverage snap (last among outside corners with at least 300 coverage snaps that season) along with a higher-than-average 17.8% target rate. His yards per coverage snap returned to better than average in 2025 (1.0), though. But even if 2024 was a blip, Ward's age and the team's contractual control make this deal an unforced error.
Yes, Ward still had two more seasons on his then-current deal. However, when it comes to one of the best cornerbacks in franchise history and a cornerstone of what you're doing, can you really blame them for getting a deal done? This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns CB Denzel Ward's contract extension earns a label from ESPN
