Okay, okay, so nothing is “guaranteed,” but the Green Bay Packers would certainly become heavy Super Bowl favorites if they were able to acquire cornerback Denzel Ward from the Cleveland Browns before the NFL trade deadline.
Apparently, the Packers have called the Browns about Ward, which makes sense considering that Cleveland is just 2-6 and could be preparing to go into all-out rebuilding mode (which might even include gauging the market for Myles Garrett).
Does that necessarily mean that the Browns are gung-ho about moving Ward? No. For all we know, it was a quick phone conversation. Perhaps Brian Gutekunst called Cleveland general manager Andrew Berry, asked about Ward’s availability, and that was that.
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But if there is a realistic chance that the Packers could pry Ward away from the Browns, they should absolutely try and complete the deal.
Green Bay needs a cornerback, and Ward is one of the best cornerbacks in football. Since entering the NFL in 2018, he has racked up double figures in passes defended every year. Last season, he led the league with 19. He has made four Pro Bowls and is under contract on a rather team-friendly deal (given the current state of the cornerback market) through 2027.
Yes, Ward has a pretty concerning concussion history, which could give the Packers pause. But he played 16 games last season and has appeared in all eight for Cleveland thus far in 2025, so he is definitely healthy.
The caveat is that Green Bay already traded a pair of first-round picks for Micah Parsons, and we know that Gutekunst is typically reserved about jettisoning draft capital to begin with. You have to figure that Ward would command a second-rounder and potentially more. Would the Packers be willing to do that?
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward. Credit:Â Ken Blaze-Imagn Images.
Well, it depends on how desperate Green Bay is for a championship, because right now, it’s very obvious that the Packers are knocking on the door of a Super Bowl.
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The problem is that Green Bay is facing some stiff competition in the NFC. The Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all elite. The Los Angeles Rams are no joke, either. The conference is loaded, and the margin for error is slim.
On paper, the Packers may very well have the best roster in football, and let’s remember that they will also be getting wide receiver Jayden Reed back later on in the season.
Green Bay is very close right now, and while the Packers can try and sign Stephon Gilmore or Asante Samuel Jr. in free agency, it would obviously be far more glamorous for them to pursue a genuinely elite corner like Ward.
The NFL trade deadline is next Tuesday, so the clock is ticking. We’ll see what happens.