Following the departure of star defensive end Myles Garrett from Cleveland, cornerback Denzel Ward has emerged as the team’s longest-tenured player, and he’s committed to maintaining that status.
Speaking at his first celebrity softball game in Eastlake, Ohio on Saturday, Ward expressed his commitment to the team. “I definitely still want to be here,” Ward told ESPN. “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.”
The blockbuster deal that sent Garrett to Los Angeles was completed on Monday, with the Rams acquiring the five-time All-Pro in return for two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Jared Verse, along with a first-round pick in 2027, a second-round selection in 2028, and a third-round choice in 2029.
Selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2017 NFL Draft, Garrett established a new NFL single-season sacks record last year with 23. The defensive standout, who has earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors twice and made seven Pro Bowl appearances, compiled 412 tackles, 149 tackles for loss, and 125.5 sacks during his nine-year career. His sack total ranks tied for 20th in official NFL records since 1982 and third among current players, trailing only Von Miller at 138.5 and Cameron Jordan with 132.
Ward didn’t hide his surprise about the transaction. “Crazy trade, definitely a crazy trade,” he said Saturday. “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 cornerback still has two seasons remaining on his five-year, $100.5 million extension that he signed in 2022, although no additional guaranteed money is included in the deal.
When questioned Tuesday about Ward’s response to the Garrett transaction, Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry told ESPN it was “most appropriate for Denzel to speak for himself” while confirming the Browns have no intention of trading Ward.
“(Ward is) a big part of the team, and we like him a lot,” Berry stated Tuesday. “He’s still playing at a really high level. That doesn’t change with this transaction.”
Ward acknowledged that the possibility of being traded is always present in professional football.
“I could get traded, but I don’t look too much into that stuff,” Ward explained to ESPN. “It’s the nature of the game. Say I do get traded, for me, wherever I’m at that’s where I’m supposed to be. So if I’m here, I’m supposed to be here. If I go to a different team, that’s where I’m supposed to be.
“But I love playing for the Cleveland Browns. I want to be here. I’m grateful wherever I’m at, whatever opportunity I get to go play football, that’s what I do.”
The 29-year-old Ward was selected fourth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Ohio State alumnus has recorded 361 career tackles, 18 interceptions — two returned for touchdowns — 104 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries across 110 games with 107 starts. Two of his fumble recoveries also resulted in touchdowns.
