Potential Denzel Ward scenarios between Packers and Browns spark debate ahead of the trade deadline and what could unfold

Cornerback is 28 and has two and a half years left on his contract with the Browns.

Oct 31, 2025 7:49 AM EDT

Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) breaks up a pass to Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The trade deadline is quickly approaching, as the deadline to move players is next Tuesday, Nov. 4. The Green Bay Packers are 5-1-1, and cornerback is probably their biggest need, while the Cleveland Browns are 2-6 and could be sellers.

Denzel Ward has been floated around as a potential trade possibility, so our Browns writer, Brandon Little, and our Packers writer, Wendell Ferreira, discuss compensation, performance, and what a deal could look like for both sides.

Would the Browns consider trading Denzel Ward?

Brandon: Cleveland is 2-6 in what’s shaping up to be a long season filled with bumps and bruises. The Browns have some young pieces worth getting excited about who’ve shown great promise this year, but at the end of the day, they’re a bad team with a good defense.

Denzel Ward is a key part of that defense as their top cornerback on the outside. A former first-round pick, Ward is 28 years old and under contract through 2027.

Ward’s team control is one of the main reasons Cleveland would want to keep him. The former Ohio State star typically misses a couple of games each season — mostly due to concussions or soft tissue injuries — but when healthy, he’s been a reliable presence since he was drafted. If the Browns move on from Ward, it would be because they believe it could help accelerate their rebuild.

Ward isn’t having his usual lockdown season, and that could mark the start of a slight decline as he approaches 30. If the Browns think that’s the case, acting now with a trade would make sense. I wouldn’t trade Ward, as Cleveland would just be creating another hole they don’t need to fill yet.

Does it make sense for the Packers?

Wendell: The Packers are betting on a weak-link approach at cornerback, but there has been a weak link because Nate Hobbs hasn’t been what the team expected when it gave him a four-year deal in free agency. Carrington Valentine is the new starter, but adding a high-end piece for a reasonable price would be key to unlocking a unit that has been too reliant on the defensive front to keep afloat.

That being said, there’s a lot of risk involved. As Brandon said, Ward has shown some signs of regression, and older cornerbacks typically don’t return to their prime. Moreover, it’s an expensive contract, with around $7 million in remaining base salary this year, $20 million in 2026, and $20.5 million in 2027. After paying Micah Parsons and many other pieces, it’s hard to add that salary to the books.

If they do trade him, what type of compensation would they be looking for?

Brandon: The Browns would likely seek a return somewhere around the Marshon Lattimore and L’Jarius Sneed trade packages. The Tennessee Titans acquired Sneed from the Kansas City Chiefs for a third-round pick and a swap of seventh-round picks. When Lattimore was traded at 28 years old to the Washington Commanders, the Commanders sent third-, fourth-, and sixth-round picks to New Orleans in exchange for Lattimore and a fifth-round pick.

For Ward, Cleveland would be wise to aim for a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in return. Ward has 18 career interceptions and has recorded at least two in every season since being drafted in 2018. That price would likely drop the closer the Browns get to the end of his contract if an extension isn’t in place.

How much would the Packers be willing to give up?

Wendell: The Packers are already without first- and sixth-rounders next year after trading for Parsons and Darian Kinnard, so it’s hard to foresee general manager Brian Gutekunst parting ways with more draft capital for a veteran player. It would have to be a good value, maybe something around a fourth-rounder — or a third/fifth-round swap, the inverse of what the Packers did when they sent Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills.

Ultimately, the difference between what the Browns would want and what the Packers would pay is why it’s difficult to pull off this type of deal in the middle of a season.

How has he played this year?

Brandon: While the Browns may have one of the better defenses in the NFL this season, Ward hasn’t been one of the standout contributors. Cleveland’s No. 1 cornerback has had his share of struggles in zone coverage — an area where he’s long been less effective compared to man coverage.

Ward has one interception and five passes defended this season, along with a 50.4 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus. It’s been uncharacteristic for Ward not to play at his usual level, but that doesn’t mean he can’t rebound in the second half of the season following the bye week.

This article was originally published on A to Z Sports Green Bay, as “Potential Denzel Ward scenarios between Packers and Browns spark debate ahead of the trade deadline and what could unfold.”