NFL personnel drops unfortunate reminder about what the loss of Myles Garrett really means for the Cleveland Browns
Trading Myles Garrett was a big move for the Cleveland Browns that could make or break them in the future. NFL folks are speaking on what it means for them on the field.
Trading Myles Garrett was a blockbuster move for the Cleveland Browns, which was surprising just because the best player in the NFL doesn’t get moved often.
Coming off a 23-sack season, the Browns shipped Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams for EDGE Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round selection.
Cleveland losing Garrett is tough in the immediate, though they hope Verse can fill some of the void left. Seeing the All-Pro in a different uniform will be a bit weird in 2026.
Myles Garrett’s ranking as the top pass rusher in the NFL sends reminder to the Browns
Garrett ranked as the No. 1 EDGE in the NFL according to executives, coaches, and scouts around the NFL in a poll done by ESPN. The ranking came with no surprise, and one comment by an NFL coach tells what the Browns will be missing.
“He’s seen every type of help an offense can give — slide to him, chips from tight ends and running backs, only run plays away from him — and he has a game plan or counter for all of it,” a separate NFL coordinator said via ESPN. “From a mental standpoint, it’s really impressive.”
There’s no way to replace Garrett, but the Browns have to do the best possible they can to retool their pass rush, which is why getting Verse back was a must from the Rams. Verse is a younger player with two Pro Bowl nominations in his first two seasons as a pro.
However, Verse is a different kind of pass rusher who is limited in different ways unlike Garrett.
“Love Verse, but some of the other rushers higher than him have more variety, whereas Verse is all power at times. But he’s only going to get better and have a great career. He’s a beast,” an NFL executive said.
Verse wins as a power rusher by bulking through and fighting through offensive tackles. Cleveland can use such a player off the EDGE at all times, but it’s nice to have a player who can bend around the corner and win with speed too. Cleveland will be missing it with Garrett now out west.
Jared Verse can lead a still-talented defensive line for the Browns
Verse is still an ascending pass rusher who hasn’t hit his ceiling of what he can be. From his first two seasons, the former first-round pick jumped from 4.5 to 7.5 sacks. Verse hit the quarterback 27 times last year and hasn’t missed a game in his two years.
Cleveland is going to rely on a combination of Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire to add to the pass rush. Both players have shown spurts of good play in the NFL, but a jump from either player would be huge for the Browns.
On the interior, players like Mason Graham, Mike Hall Jr., and Maliek Collins will get after the passer. The Browns still have plenty of pass rush to work with for Mike Rutenberg’s defense, but missing Garrett takes their element of a multi-dimensional pass rusher away.