Cleveland Browns weigh trade of veteran DBs Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit as youth rebuild continues

The Cleveland Browns are evaluating the possibility of moving cornerback Denzel Ward and safety Grant Delpit as the team shifts toward younger talent after the Myles Garrett trade. Ward, a five‑time Pro Bowler, is under contract through the 2027 season but carries no guaranteed money and a $30.8 million cap hit in 2026; trading him could free roughly $17.5 million. Delpit, entering the final year of his contract, is also seen as a potential deadline‑season seller. Both players missed voluntary offseason activities due to injuries, and head coach Todd Monken declined comment. Ward told reporters, “I definitely still want to be here… I could get traded, but I don’t look too much into that stuff.” General manager Andrew Berry has down‑played any imminent moves.

Meanwhile, the Browns’ 2026 draft class includes safety Emmanuel McNeil‑Warren, selected with the 58th overall pick after the team traded up. The Toledo product posted 214 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five interceptions in college, and is praised for his leadership, saying, “Toledo believed in me from the start, and I wanted to repay the faith they placed in me.” The organization views McNeil‑Warren as a future cornerstone of a rebuilt secondary alongside other young assets such as Jared Verse, Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger.