DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum What If?

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.

Yes - for some reason I thought that he was a FA after this year. If his contract was up this year I think he has much less value. The caveat would be if we sign and trade him whereby the Browns eating his signing bonus helps the team out and makes the situation more appealing.

The only people that would be buying will be teams that think they're making a run and Ward would be the missing piece they need, so they'll pay, and there's zero chance we trade him for less than the 3rd rounder compensatory.... so, the teams willing to pony up will be slim pickins for sure. Either way, we don't have to panic sell.

Bone, while it is a dream right now, there is a chance it could become a reality.

My biggest pause is that it is usually pretty slow implementing a whole new system. Pair that with starting an entirely new offensive line. Not one of them have played together before.

I would put the chance of everything coming together fast enough to win consistently at about 20%.

I just don’t trust either QB. I hope I’m wrong. It would be my wildest dream for Shedeur to step up, but he didn’t show much last season and it’s only year two with a whole new coaching staff. He is so much pressure all the time. It’s not just Shedeur, it’s the whole Sanders family. You got bro who can’t stay off social media and you got Pops who wants to meet with the coaching staff. I know it’s easy to say, ignore Deion, but if you do that then you have Shedeur for 4 years and he goes somewhere he can control the agenda, period.

Even if.. they pull it together and win games this year, I would still like to find a way to get a QB in 2027. I don’t believe in Gabriel, I’m ready to move on and let him find a comfy back up job with a team that is settled with their main guy. That’s his role in the league. Watson is already gone. I get that he is the best chance to win in 2026, his veteran presence could help the offense to come together sooner than later, but it won’t give anyone else the needed reps to get up to pro speed. As much as I want to win at all cost, I really just want to give the starting job to Shedeur and move forward. Give him all the opportunities he needs to succeed and see where it goes. If he falls on his face, that’s on him and his dad can’t cause any drama. If he doesn’t, well then we can start finding ways to make this roster hole free with the assets we have in the draft from Myles. We still have a way to go if Haslem’s plan is to be championship caliber for the opening in 2029. The only way to get there sooner is to hit a home run with a QB. Just so much room to fail, I wish we could get that with Sanders.

I agree there is a chance we could be good and win 10 games and make the playoffs. Todd Monken is going to start the QB that gives us the best chance to win because it's his job to win as many games as possible. However. it would make more sense for the long term to start Shedeur for the reasons Irish gave. Let him sink or swim. If he does well, we could be drafting in the early 20's but can still move up to take a QB if we have to. If he doesn't, we'll probably de drafting in the top 10. A lot of things up in the air with many questions to be answered. At least we have the draft capitol to move up. Smart move by AB.

Yeah Homewood, I’m not convinced the Myles trade is going to sink this team like some others do. With Verse added to the mix, Berry set the defense up to succeed immediately. The extra picks along with him can go anywhere the team needs them to. Might be a QB, might be defensive backfield or offensive line. There really are so many possibilities now.

Those possibilities may become more clear as the season unfolds. By the time the season is over those possibilities may have dwindled.