The Cleveland Browns’ decision to trade talented defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams stole the headlines in the NFL this week. The repercussions of the blockbuster deal are still being unearthed, and the future of Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has been brought to the forefront as a result.
Denzel Ward Addresses Browns’ Future After Myles Garrett Trade
The Browns traded Garrett to the Rams in exchange for edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-rounder, and a 2029 third-rounder.
While speaking to reporters on Saturday at a celebrity softball game, Ward addressed the issue of his future on the team after Garrett’s shock trade to the Rams earlier this week.
“I definitely still want to be here,” Ward said. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.”
“I definitely still want to be here,” – Denzel Ward wants to stay with the Browns after the Myles Garrett trade. pic.twitter.com/wld7ZOBGHD
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) June 6, 2026
“Crazy trade, definitely a crazy trade,” he added. “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.”
The five-time Pro Bowler was the No. 4 overall pick by the franchise in the 2018 NFL Draft, and after Garrett’s trade to the Rams, Ward became the longest-tenured player on the Browns roster. He still has two years remaining on his five-year, $100.5 million contract extension, which he signed four years ago.
After Garrett’s trade, the Browns’ general manager, Andrew Berry, already issued a hands-off notice to teams regarding Ward’s future at the franchise. ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler further addressed Ward’s standing with the AFC North team in a lengthy post on X this week.
“Browns’ desire for a young, ascending pass rusher (and Jared Verse, specifically), shrunk candidate pool. Per team source, this was a Rams-specific deal because Rams ‘hounded’ CLE for a while. Myles Garrett did not request a trade similar to last offseason,” Fowler wrote.
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“Team made deal because due to the trade value. Don’t sense this is a fire sale. Was told a hard no on Denzel Ward’s availability, for example.”
In 110 games played for the Browns, Ward has tallied 18 interceptions, four forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries, and 104 passes defended to establish himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Last season, he earned a PFSN Cornerback Impact score of 77.7, good for No. 40 in the league.
