The Cleveland Browns are making Denzel Ward the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.
Ward agreed Monday to a five-year, $100.5 million extension with $71.25 million guaranteed, per multiple reports.
Agent Tory Dandy of CAA Sports confirmed the deal with ESPN.
Ward, who turns 25 on April 28, was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and earned his second Pro Bowl selection in 2021.
He registered three interceptions in 15 starts last season, including a 99-yard pick-six at Cincinnati in Week 9.
Ward has 10 interceptions, 50 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and 186 tackles in 52 games (51 starts).
The average annual value (AAV) of the extension is $20.1 million, edging Jalen Ramsey of the Rams ($20 million), Marshon Lattimore of the Saints ($19.52 million) and Marlon Humphrey of the Ravens ($19.5 million) for the highest among NFL cornerbacks, according to Spotrac.
Ward was due to earn a base salary of $13.3 million in 2022 on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract.
The Browns addressed their defense again later Monday when they signed defensive tackle Sheldon Day and defensive end Stephen Weatherly.
Day, 27, has seven sacks over parts of six seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts and Browns. He appeared in seven games with Cleveland last season, tallying 21 tackles and one sack.
Weatherly, 28, spent the bulk of his first six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. He also has played nine games apiece with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. He has 8 1/2 career sacks.
–Field Level Media
