Verse's Browns Debut
Jared Verse joins Cleveland Browns, aims to establish his unique style after Myles Garrett trade
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Jared Verse arrived at the Cleveland Browns' facility in Berea, Ohio on Wednesday, two days after one of the most stunning trades in recent NFL history. The Browns sent two-time Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Verse and three future draft picks, according to Associated Press.
Verse made clear he is not trying to replace a legend. "I'm not here to fill his shoes. I'm here to bring my own," he told reporters. The 25-year-old, selected 19th overall in the 2024 draft, jumped right into individual and position drills during the Browns' eighth voluntary OTA practice, per WKYC.
A Blockbuster Deal Built on Draft Capital
The trade, which broke on June 1, 2026, sends Garrett — the Browns' all-time sack leader with 125.5 career sacks — to Los Angeles. Cleveland gets Verse plus a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick, according to Stardem. That third-rounder reportedly converts to a first-round pick if the Rams trade Garrett to any AFC North team.
The financial math heavily favors Cleveland. Garrett is owed roughly $73 million over the next two seasons. Verse, still on his rookie deal, costs the Browns about $5 million over that same stretch, per CBS8. Browns GM Andrew Berry called the decision "difficult" but said Verse was "the key factor" in making the deal work.
Verse Shifts From Stand-Up Rusher to Hand-in-the-Dirt End
The scheme change is significant. In Los Angeles, Verse played standing up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. In Cleveland, coach Todd Monken runs a 4-3 base. That means Verse will line up with his hand in the dirt as a traditional defensive end, according to The New Sentinel Enterprise.
Monken believes the simpler alignment will unlock Verse's best football. "He's going to fit us like a glove," Monken said. Verse recorded 7.5 sacks in his sophomore season with the Rams. His presence alongside interior tackle Mason Graham gives the Browns a young and cost-controlled pass-rush core, per WZZM13.
Garrett's Exit Tied to Coaching Staff Disconnect
Garrett's departure was not purely about money or age. Reports indicate that Monken, hired in January 2026, never met Garrett face-to-face before the trade. Garrett had skipped every voluntary workout since the new staff arrived, per KSDK. That stands in sharp contrast to Verse, who showed up to Berea less than 48 hours after the deal was finalized.
Monken noticed. "Just his willingness to get here this morning and be on the practice field says a lot," the coach said. Despite finishing with a franchise-record 23 sacks in 2025, Garrett's Browns went 5-12. The front office decided a younger, more engaged core was worth more than one elite veteran, according to LMT Online.
Verse Sees a Chip on His Shoulder, Not a Shadow
Verse admitted he was "initially upset" when he learned of the trade. But he quickly reframed it. He said the Browns wanted him enough to move a legend, and that gave him motivation. "The best version of me is going to be the best defensive player in the league," he told reporters, per WLTX.
The draft capital Cleveland collected could also fuel the team's future at quarterback. Shedeur Sanders is currently battling for the starting role, and the new picks may eventually help build around — or replace — that position, according to KTVB. For now, all eyes in Berea are on the 25-year-old edge rusher who arrived ready to work.
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