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Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward has been a target of trade rumors.

Denzel Ward’s name keeps surfacing as the Cleveland Browns continue to reshape their roster, but the latest trade speculation around the Pro Bowl cornerback comes with a return that should make the front office hang up the phone.

CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell recently listed Ward among NFL stars who could eventually push for a change of scenery, pointing to the San Francisco 49ers as a potential landing spot. The projected compensation was a fourth-round pick.

That may be the going-rate guess for a veteran cornerback on a team in transition. It still feels light — and not by a little.

The Browns have already traded Myles Garrett, moved on from several veterans and turned the page toward a younger core. In that context, Ward is an obvious name to speculate on. He is 29, carries a sizable cap number and has two years left on his deal with no guaranteed money remaining.

But there is a difference between being a logical trade candidate and being worth only a Day 3 pick.

Denzel Ward Trade Return Would Be Hard for Browns to Justify

A fourth-round pick for Ward would be a paltry return for one of the league’s most accomplished cornerbacks. He is a five-time Pro Bowler, a former No. 4 overall pick and a proven difference-maker on Cleveland’s defense.

However, Ward has never played a full season, and that has to be part of any discussion about his value. Durability has always been the concern. He is also nearing 30, which matters at a position built on speed and suddenness. But Ward has not shown he is finished and was named a Pro Bowler last season.

A fourth-round pick is useful, but it is not franchise-altering. It is not an asset that replaces a top cover corner or gives the Browns anything close to equal value for a player still performing at a high level. Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com argued the Browns should instead extend Ward.

“I think that he deserves a raise,” Cabot said on the Orange and Brown Talk podcast. “And if that’s something that he wants and they want to keep him happy, especially in the wake of the Myles Garrett trade, that could be a place where you throw a little bit of money and show him how much you appreciate him.”

Denzel Ward Has Made His Feelings Clear on Browns Future

Ward has had every reason to wonder where he fits after the Garrett trade, which brought back a package of draft picks and Pro Bowl pass-rusher Jared Verse.

“Crazy trade, definitely a crazy trade,” Ward said. “I believe that either you’re with us or against us, and as you see, he’s not with us. Crazy trade, but hey, that’s the nature of this game.”

Still, Ward made it clear that Garrett’s exit did not change what he wants.

“I definitely still want to be here,” Ward said. “Myles is a good friend of mine, a great teammate, but things aren’t lost. It’s Ohio against the world. So people could doubt us, but we’re going out there still trying to play our best ball and bring wins to the city.”

The Browns are certainly in transition. But for the time being, Ward looks to be a key part of the future.

J.R. DeGroote Browns beat writer for Heavy.com. Covering the NFL and NBA since 2019. ASU Cronkite grad. More about J.R. DeGroote