The Broncos cut safety T.J. Ward because they didn’t want to pay his $4.5 million base salary this season. But immediately after Ward was released, the Buccaneers called him with a better offer.
Josina Anderson of ESPN reports that Ward’s deal with the Buccaneers is for one year and $5 million. So the 30-year-old Ward will come out ahead.
Broncos front office boss John Elway said the team didn’t ask Ward to take a pay cut. That may have been because they knew the market would pay Ward more than the Broncos wanted to.
Ward will have a week to get up to speed in Tampa before their Week One matchup against the Dolphins.