What happened: The $62.2 million extension for Denzel Ward moves him $100,000 per year ahead of Trent McDuffie. Sauce Gardner and Derek Stingley Jr. follow at $30.1 million and $30 million, respectively.
Why it matters: The deal establishes a new negotiating ceiling at a premium position entering the 2026 season. Jaycee Horn ranks fifth at $25 million annually.
By the numbers: The top four annual averages are separated by $1.1 million. Ward's $31.1 million figure is about 0.3% above McDuffie's, while the gap from Ward to Horn is $6.1 million.
What to watch: The next elite cornerback extension will test whether the market clears Ward's figure or remains clustered near $30 million.