Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns
Getty
Denzel Ward #21 of the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are starting over again this offseason under new head coach Todd Monken, but the defense doesn’t need as much work after finishing No. 4 in the NFL last season. That said, shedding salary and picking up draft picks makes sense for the Browns’ timeline for potential contention.
One player who makes sense as a trade chip is five-time cornerback cornerback Denzel Ward, who has two seasons remaining on his five-year, $100.5 million contract heading into 2026. Ward will play next year at 29 years old and has battled concussion issues throughout his career.
Ward’s age and injury history, combined with his salary, could drive his trade price down. However, he holds significant value as a potential finishing piece to the right playoff contender. Depending on how they go about the rest of the offseason, the Chicago Bears could be that team after a run to the Divisional Round of the playoffs in 2025-26.
Chicago owns pick Nos. 57 and 60 in Round 2, as well as pick No. 89 in Round 3.
Bears Must Replace Pro-Bowl Cornerback Nahshon Wright, 4 Departed Safeties
L’Jarius Sneed
GettyCornerback Nahshon Wright, formerly of the Chicago Bears.
The Bears lost four safeties and Pro-Bowl cornerback Nahshon Wright in free agency.
As such, Matt Okada of NFL.com suggested a trade for a top veteran defensive back if the team doesn’t add one with pick No. 25 in Round 1.
“It’s probably going to take several more moves, as Chicago needs to not just patch the holes but improve its defense to compete for the division again in 2026,” Okada wrote. “Many mocks have the Bears addressing the defensive line with their first-round pick (No. 25 overall), but drafting Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren there would be a strong addition to the secondary rebuild. An aggressive trade for a starting DB also wouldn’t hurt: I’d make calls for guys like Denzel Ward, Marlon Humphrey, Riley Moss and Budda Baker.”
If healthy, Ward and Jaylon Johnson would form one of the better cornerback duos in the NFL. Chicago already added Coby Bryant on a $40 million deal, a high-end safety to replace departed All-Pro Kevin Byard III.
Browns Remain Uninterested in Trading Star Pass-Rusher Myles Garrett
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett has reportedly not talked to the team this offseason following the hiring of Todd Monken.
GettyCleveland Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett.
Longtime Browns general manager Andrew Berry and team ownership have been adamant throughout the course of Myles Garrett’s career that they have no interest in trading him. Garrett wanted out last offseason, but changed his tune after the team offered him $160 million to stay.
Garrett went on to win the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award for the second time in 2025, this time unanimously, after breaking the all-time single-season record with 23 sacks. Despite being on the wrong side of 30, the Browns could probably bring back multiple first-round picks for Garrett in trade, which makes sense to some degreegiven his age/salary and the team’s likely lack of competitiveness for the next two or three seasons.
However, all signs point to Cleveland keeping Garrett. In that case, moving on from Ward for a late-second-round pick, or the like, could be a way to maximize some of the talent on defense, which hasn’t helped the Browns find any postseason success (and just one playoff berth) over the last three years.