Heading into the 2026 season, Ward, 29, had two years left on an initial five-year, $100.5 contract extension. That was signed in 2022, but it did not have any guaranteed money.
Ward, who is currently the Browns' longest-tenured player, will become the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history for the second time in his career. In total, he will take home $31.1 million annually.
Per ESPN, his annual average salary will pass cornerback Trent McDuffie of the Los Angeles Rams ($31 million), who had joined the Rams from the Kansas City Chiefs in March and signed a four-year, $124 million extension.
The other defensive players with the highest salary include the Sauce Gardner (Indianapolis Coltes, $30.1 million), Derek Stingley Jr (Houston Texans, $30 million), and Jaycee Horn (Carolina Panthers, $25 million), according to ESPN.
Ward was picked fourth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. He has 361 career tackles, 18 interceptions - two being returned for touchdowns - 104 passes defended, four forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries (two being converted into touchdowns) from 110 regular-season matchups for the Browns. He started 107 of those games.
He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024, and 2025.