Ward, now the longest-tenured Brown, called the Garrett trade "crazy" but said the team is still playing to win, including him.
It was the trade that rocked the NFL world when the Cleveland Browns traded away longtime star defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday. Despite this, leaders in Cleveland are stepping up at a critical moment.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward, now the longest tenured player on the roster, was one of those players, who didn’t downplay the craziness of the Garrett trade but locked into an underdog mentality with the franchise ahead of next season.
Speaking at his inaugural celebrity softball game in Eastlake, Oh., Ward reaffirmed his commitment to the team, making it clear that he wants to remain in Cleveland, and that there is now a bit of an us vs. them mentality where Ohio is locking in and shutting out the outside noise. He certainly was surprised by the trade but sees it as part of business.
To read more about Ward’s public comments at a time that some stabilization is needed, here is the full story from Browns Roundtable writer Spencer German.
Cleveland sent their two-time Defensive Player of the Years to the Rams in exchange for two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first rounder, 2028 second rounder, and conditional 2029 third rounder. That left Ward to step up as the longest tenured Brown, after being selected by the franchise No. 4 overall in the 2018 draft.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Browns don’t intend to ship off Ward, and he will not be made available for a trade. However, while he has two years left on his five-year, $100 million extension, Ward is out of guaranteed money. So, despite public commitment, the long term future for Ward in Cleveland might depend on what transpires this upcoming season.
