Breaking news from Schefter
https://x.com/AdamSchefter/status/1976108843533791644?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet
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Crazy trade. I’d much rather be on the Campbell side of things.
Hey Miles Garrett.
Im glad you got all that money.
You can put it in your empty trophy case.
agree…. I don’t understand why the Jags make this trade.
The only thing I can think of would be some major personal issue with Campbell and the new regime.
Cough.. fire sale for Cleveland soon? Maybe Ward? I know it won’t happen just stirring the pot
Saw a stat that he had a sub 40 passer rating against in man coverage last year? Is that right?
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These fire sale deals have become commonplace in today’s NFL. It’s no big deal to grab a legit talent for nominal draft compensation and play the comp pick game when he leaves. There’s gotta be an angle here The Villain can exploit to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Detroit.
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I actually wondered if Ward might become available when I saw this trade.
Campbell was already extended… so I could see them seeing him as the long term CB #1 if they deal Ward.
Ward has a $1.255 million base salary in 2025….
so he would be an attractive trade target for a contender.
He also is due $20 million in 2026 (age 29) & another $20.5 million in 2027 (age 30) on his current deal… which Cleveland may not want to pay.
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I think Ward would be our best target and we can let Arnold and Reed heal then shift Amik back inside whoever comes back first and figure it out after the both are. Just dont expect it will happen, but what do you think gets it done?
Guessing it would take a 3rd round pick. Same as Carlton Davis III
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It wouldn’t take that much… In season vs off season… I’d bet a 5th would get it done
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Ward is a top 5 CB in the NFL and he is under contract for 3 years. If he is made available it would cost us a 1st round pick. another team might be able to get him if they have a high 2nd. We got Davis for a 3rd because he was a rental.
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It would be interesting…..
I think @CashRipley might be right with a 3rd round pick…
especially from a contender that would be later in the round.
Browns don’t have to move him this year… because like Jalen Ramsey… would still have value after the season as well since he has 2 years left on his deal.
that said… a team could trade a 3rd rounder (or even more) to get Ward as a low salary “rental” for a 2025 playoff run… and then deal him away after the season to avoid paying the high salaries due in 2026 & 2027.
Could a contender potentially give the Browns a likely late 2nd round pick now (for 2026 draft)…. and then trade Ward away after the season and get a 4th round pick back in 2027???
He has a $2.5 million roster bonus due on 3rd day of the league year, so a team adding him this season likely is going to have to commit to paying that money… as well as the small balance of his $1.255 base salary (now less than $1 million).
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He is a top CB…. but recent history doesn’t bode well for teams landing 1st round picks for players that are approaching 30 years old.
Jalen Ramsey was traded for a 3rd round pick to Dolphins when he was 28yo.
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Jalen was about to be a free agent and he wanted to be the highest paid CB in the NFL. I believe the Dolphins did grant his wish. 20 mil a year for 2 more years on Ward is not a bad contract. Now if he was sitting out and demanding more money or an extension it may lower his value. As of now he is a top 5 CB on a very reasonable contract.
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Ramsey was traded in March of 2023….
and was signed through the 2025 season.
He was under contract for 3 more seasons….
for whatever that is worth.
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Interestingly enough… his AAV for a deal signed in 2020 was higher than Ward is due to be paid over the next 2 years….
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Ward has ZERO guaranteed money left on his deal.
If we are discussing him him as a top 5 CB on a “very reasonable contract”…. then wouldn’t his agent be looking to adjust that contract this offseason… regardless of wherher he is traded or not???
That is yet another reason Cleveland may be interested in dealing him as they wnter a rebuild… and also WHY he won’t command a 1st round pick.
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Okay so lions trade their 2027 1st to the Browns for ward and a 2026 3rd/4th.. you do it? Not that i would expect it to be a 1st but I would probably do it, helps greatly this year.
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According to OTC Ward is owed 44 mil fully guaranteed over the next 2 years. He is the 8th highest paid CB in the NFL. There will be plenty of teams bidding on him if he is available.
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His deal had $44.5 mill guaranteed at signing.
Zero guarantees remain.
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His cash due is here…
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Much like Ramsey…..
his age and salary will limit the compensation that interested teams will be willing to part with in a trade.
No team is giving up a 1st round pick for a high paid CB that will be 29 yo next season.
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This would be very tempting because we don’t have a 3rd this year. The 2027 draft is supposed to be loaded with talent I would not want to give up that 1st. I would have to pass on that deal because if we bring on the Ward money it may limit our ability to sign Branch and LaPorta among others. Ward would be a great fit on our team right now though. I think we may need an OT with our 1st this year.
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That’s interesting the way that contract is structured. I would think not having the next 2 years guaranteed would make him in more demand. We could play him this year and next year and then cut him or trade him.
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