Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Browns make move regarding Denzel Ward that is just in time for free agency

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Feb 28, 2024 11:36 AM ET

Cleveland Browns are already active on Wednesday as they have done some bookkeeping that’ll help them in a couple of weeks.

The Browns have restructured the contract of CB Denzel Ward, which clears $11.3 million in cap space for the 2024 season. It is one of a few instances that the Browns will do this for the off-season.

Salary cap-clearing continues ...#Browns restructured CB Denzel Ward's contract, clearing $11.359M#Saints converted C Cesar Ruiz's roster bonus, clearing $6.4M
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 28, 2024

Making the move now brings the Browns to under the cap space number. Before restructuring the contract, the Browns were more than $7 million over the cap. Now, Cleveland should sit at about $3.2 million in cap space. While it’s not much, it’s a move in the right direction.

Cleveland will make other cap space moves before the 2024 season and QB Deshaun Watson will be one of those surely.

Ward is under contract with the Browns through the 2027 season and the restructure just adds a void year and converts nearly $15 million into a signing bonus for the Pro Bowl cornerback this season.

The Browns have used the restructuring of contracts in years past to help work around the cap and it’ll be something they continue to do.

Cleveland will want to be active in free agency and creating cap space is a necessity to making that happen.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: