Latest Jared Verse intel raises an early problem for the Cleveland Browns, but it can definitely be fixed down the road
The Browns are hoping Jared Verse can continue the hot start to his career and become a defensive pillar for the franchise. There’s work to do before he reaches that ceiling, however.
The Cleveland Browns received a very good young player in Jared Verse via the Myles Garrett trade and he can be a foundational piece on the defensive side of the ball.
Both Verse and the Browns are going to have to fix one aspect of his game in order for that to happen, though.
A to Z Sports recently spoke with a league source in order to gain some information on why the Los Angeles Rams would trade a budding player like Verse for the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and the answer made sense:
“Verse was the final selling point in the deal, and here’s why they let him go…He is undoubtedly a good player, but he hasn’t developed into anything outside of a dominant bull rusher. Not enough converting to sacks and not enough impact plays. Lots of pressures. But 3rd & 9 not enough impact rushes. One of the better young rushers in the league, but doesn’t project to change the game the way Myles does.”
Numbers back up Jared Verse’s perceived lack of impact when compared to Myles Garrett
Yes, Verse racks up a ton of pressures, but he racked up the ninth- and third-most pass rush snaps over the last two years, per Pro Football Focus. Meaning, there was ample opportunity to rack up pressures.
Sure, Verse did his job in that regard, but the true impact plays weren’t there on a consistent enough basis. To the source’s point, six of Verse’s 14.0 career sacks (including playoffs) came on either third or fourth down. However, just three of those six were truly impactful.
One of the minor sacks came at the end of the first half against the Eagles in 2024 while they attempted a Hail Mary. Then, the other two came against the Buccaneers when the Rams were already up 31-7 and 34-7, respectively in 2025.
No one is discrediting the fact Verse made the play and it’s what needed to happen in order for the Rams to win. At the same time though, it backs up the point that he isn’t making enough game-changing plays.
Per Sports Info Solutions, Verse has zero fourth quarter sacks on third down over the first two years of his career. He has one sack on fourth down, but it was the aforementioned garbage time sack against the Bucs.
It means something, but it’s also a very specific stat. So, let’s zoom out and look at the fourth quarter as a whole.
Per Next Gen Stats, Verse has 3.0 fourth quarter sacks on 282 pass rushes. To put that into context: His teammate, Byron Young, has 6.0 fourth quarter sacks on 288 pass rushes, with 4.0 coming in 2025, alone.
Young is a good player, himself, but the fact he’s outproducing Verse in the game’s most important quarter is worth noting.
Jared Verse can easily improve his game to where this is a non-factor
Again, no one is saying Verse is overrated, the Browns got a bad deal, or anything like that. And there are different ways for Verse to make an impact than sacks.
Also, it’s important to remember this is just his third year in the NFL. He’s entering his prime and has a very coaching staff around him. That will play a big role in his development and motivation shouldn’t be an issue after the Rams sent him packing after just two years.
But until that happens, this will be a talking point, as well as something to monitor as Verse enters his era with the Browns.