This is why I don’t think bringing him over would really impact our resigning. Can always do a simple restructure or a few guys to fit until the contract expires. With that said he would probably want a new deal.
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If we could get Ward without giving up a 1st or 2nd I would be all for it.
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I agree it is decent for a team right now…
but also why I would expect his agent to demand an extension with new guaranteed money.
I think we are on the same page… and most teams would see this the same way… with him being a half season to maybe 1.5 season rental.
That is why I believe his value is capped at a (presumably late) 2nd rounder…. and that would be with the caveat that a team feels it can later trade him for an early day 3 pick.
One other possibility…
is that a team that acquires Ward could also re-work his deal…
allowing him to hit free agency immediately after the 2025 season.
This would make a 2027 comp pick a possibility….
and might be preferred for Ward and his agent to seek a new deal.
Just read injuries, 77 million dollar contract, and not a good scheme fit for the Jags. Graded 110 out of CBs through week 5.
Seems like Jags did great by dumping him and getting an early 6th + a new starting CB.
If he’s a good fit for Schwartz defense then look out , their defense just got even better
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Until proven otherwise, I don’t think BH has any interest in making big trades. Plus isn’t Ward hurt a lot? I’m a big fan his from college, but living in Ohio and kind of following the Browns I feel like I hear he is out a lot for one reason or another.
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2 years ago Rasul Douglas
I’m sure we could get him for a 5th and 7th now
Just need dolphins to keep tanking
On October 31, 2023, the Packers traded him to the Bills for a 2024 third-round pick, also sending a fifth-round pick in return.
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We arent giving up significant draft capital or cap space for a starting DB when both our starters are coming back. Makes 0 sense. BH barely moved last year and hutch was out for the season. Ward wouldnt sign off on coming here to come off the bench. If you tell me that terrion and dj are gone for the year then that’s a different story.
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If Ward was a Lion…. he would be starting every game possible.
He is a top notch man cover CB.
If they had Ward… with Reed amd Terrion back from injury….
I think Ward and Reed would be starting.
Terrion could rotate in to give them some rest.
As several posters have mentioned and reality has proven…
teams can never have too many CBs.
I agree.
Whatever Brad does has to fit into the overall Master Plan. He is re-signing Branch in the offseason so their can’t be another big contract in the secondary. There is cap space to do a rental but that would come down to the trade deadline.
You don’t want to shoot your wad too early on a position where players are returning and then you get an injury where an important player is lost for the season and there is not enough resources to get a replacement.
I don’t think the Browns are doing a firesale and are actively shopping Ward. From what I can find, this looks more like 2 teams who are swapping DB’s that are both at the end of their contract and have been somewhat of a disappointment for their respective teams. This gives both teams a chance to evalate the new guys in their scheme before deciding to draft replacements or not.
I would certainly be happy if we could get Ward for a reasonable cost, I think he would be an outstanding fit here, but I don’t feel like it’s even remotely close to on the table.
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And it was a giant obvious mistake
Is he? I sure hope so… I have a weird feeling Branch wants to be THE guy and that’s not how this team is built. Again, I really want him here long term, but my gut tells me he won’t sign a 2nd contract here.
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Was it? Or was Smith about as good as we could do? What was available? My recollection is that last trading deadline ended up being bereft of high end talent.
Why? He seems like a team guy to me.
He has voiced is desire for individual awards in the past, I remember him saying he was more focused on being all pro last season and it hurting his play… He was upset at not being voted in the NFL top 100 by his peers… Just a gut feeling that he wants more individual recognition
I think this is about as good of a situation as any to individual recognition. Perhaps not DPOY but that is incredibly difficult at Safety anyhow.
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Kerby gets the glory bc he gets the INTs… Again, just a hunch… Had the same gut instinct that Ragnow would retire before 30…not that that has any relevance to this
I can’t argue with your gut..
But Branch already is THE Guy in the Lions secondary.
He was moved from Slot to Safety so they could build the back end around him.
The coaches acknowledge that he is THE Guy and he will be the highest paid safety when his contract is extended.
II don’t know what your gut is feeling but if a team builds their defense around you, the coaches give you constant praise and leadership, and they make you the highest paid at your position, I think he is One of THE Guys on this Lions team with a few Guys.
I’m pretty sure he is back.
Exactly Husker.
The Lions couldn’t do any better in the regular season. They were 15-2 and #1 Seed.
Were there any Edge players moved at the deadline a significantly better fit for Lions system than Za?
Would any of those players prevented the loss to Washington? The loss of Alim and the secondary players occurred after the trade deadline so there was no move that could have been made.
Many wanted big splash trades but there was none to be had and the roster achieved the highest results possible.
The playoff loss was a combination of poor execution and devastating injury that a pre-trade deadline move was not likely to prevent.
This is an ex post facto assumption.
If Brad offered Jamo, DMo, Goff and 29 million in gold bullion under the table, Jerrah woukda traded Parsons, etc on Hendrickson from Cincy etc.
I make an over-exaggeration to make a point more clear. If Brad went off plan and offered enough draft capital, there would be players to be had better than Z.
We Know that a guy the Tigers needed, Suarez, got traded to Seattle, we know the comp, and we know that the Tigers farm could have given more than that without endangering their 4 or 5 best prospects.
Deals for impact players happen often, but you have to give to get, and that wasn’t a strategy Holmes wanted to agree to.
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