NFL free agency will begin in less than three weeks. Some analysts don't believe it's a strong free-agent class, with many of the top potential free agents either re-signed by their current teams or expected to receive the franchise tag. However, as teams try and scramble to create salary cap room over the next few weeks, good players will be released.
We saw this on Monday, when the Miami Dolphins released four veterans, including All-Pro wide receiver Tyreek Hill and former Pro Bowl edge rusher Bradley Chubb. When you're a team like the Washington Commanders, who need plenty of help, you look everywhere for that help.
NFL.com recently previewed several veterans who could be cut over the next few weeks. One name jumped to the front: Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward.
Why would the Browns move on from Ward? He's a five-time Pro Bowl corner with 18 career interceptions. It's simple for Cleveland: money. The Browns still have that awful Deshaun Watson contract on their books. After Watson, Ward's $32.9 million cap number is Cleveland's second-highest.
Ward is somewhat synonymous with the Cleveland secondary at this point. He was the team’s fourth overall draft selection in 2018 and logging eight seasons as a starter with five Pro Bowl trips and 104 passes defensed -- the most by a Brown since the stat was first tracked in 1991. At 29 years old, Ward may not be as elite as he once was but is still a solid corner with years left to give. The problem is the money. Ward carries a $32.9 million cap hit in 2026, highest on the team outside of Deshaun Watson, and the Browns could save $20 million by designating him as a post-June 1 cut. Cleveland is $2.3 million under the cap and needs heavy improvement across all areas of the roster to work its way out of the AFC North cellar. Given what he’s meant to the team for the better part of a decade, this would be a more surprising cut, but it also might make sense as Cleveland looks to the future under new head coach Todd Monken.
There is no way that Ward will play next season under that cap number. Of course, the Browns could restructure the contract to keep him in Cleveland, which may be what Ward prefers. After all, he grew up in Northeast Ohio, played college football at Ohio State and has spent all eight NFL seasons with the Browns. But, Cleveland has a new head coach and defensive coordinator, and needs the cap space to spread its resources across the entire roster.
If the Browns move on from Ward, he should immediately become a top option for Washington. The Commanders will release another former Ohio State cornerback, Marshon Lattimore, leaving a void at one of the starting cornerback positions. Mike Sainristil and Trey Amos are set, but new defensive coordinator Daronte Jones needs another.
Ward appeared in 15 games last season, recording 39 tackles, nine passes defensed and one interception. His Pro Football Focus grade was 59.2 overall, which was down from his recent seasons.
This isn't a case of GM Adam Peters signing another player over 30. Ward is 28 and will turn 29 in April. He's still among the NFL's better cornerbacks. The Browns have done a good job of keeping their best homegrown players, and I'd imagine they try to work something out to keep Ward in the fold. If they don't, he'll have no shortage of suitors and would immediately be the best free-agent cornerback available.
A benefit of signing players released by other teams is that it doesn't count toward the compensatory pick formula.
Will Cleveland cut Ward? Doubtful. If it does, Peters should find a way to get a deal done immediately.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Browns CB Denzel Ward a cut candidate?