All true - but what is the value of a guy in his last year of a contract we probably aren't going to resign for the big contract he wants? Although ... with MG gone and Watson likely gone, we'll have the cap room? How many more elite years does he have?
Guessing no more than a 3rd or 4th for him if he was traded week 5 or 6 ? Unless we sign and trade and help the other team out with eating some signing bonus?
All true - but what is the value of a guy in his last year of a contract we probably aren't going to resign for the big contract he wants? Although ... with MG gone and Watson likely gone, we'll have the cap room? How many more elite years does he have?
Guessing no more than a 3rd or 4th for him if he was traded week 5 or 6 ? Unless we sign and trade and help the other team out with eating some signing bonus?
The odds we re-sign him are remote. Anything we can get for him is a net gain. We might not get nearly as high as a 3rd or 4th rounder since we wouldn't have much leverage in the deal. Then again we might just let him go to FA. The comp pick might be worth more than what we could get in trade.
Just to clarify a couple of things..
First, his signing bonus is tied to the Browns, it does not go to the traded team. Only future roster bonuses move with the player. He is due two different roster bonuses of $2.5M and $600k that = $3.1M roster bonuses in 2027. That is the only bonus for him. All other bonus money has already been paid to him in cash, but follow the Browns in the cap system.
So, the new team would have the following:
Remaining 2026 salary
After week 6: Browns will have paid $7,605,000, the new team would then pay the remaining 11 game checks to a total of $9,295,000 for 2026 to help them win this season
Then 2027 they will owe the roster bonuses of $3,100,000 and the salary of $17,400,000, which is about the 20th highest in the league.
Anyone trading for Ward is doing so because they have a huge hole created and playoffs/Super Bowl aspirations on the line.
Ward's trade value right now is a second round pick for a contender, to save this season and have him for another full season.
Wait until after the season and he is probably still worth a 3rd round pick for the final season and opportunity to extend his contract.
**Anything lower than that offered, the Browns will keep him and get the last couple years of his prime, let him go to free agency and collect a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick.
