The Cleveland Browns made the blockbuster Myles Garrett trade with the Los Angeles Rams in the offseason. Flash forward a few months, I doubt many people figured Cleveland would have five wins through the first eight games of the 2026 NFL season. Cleveland figured to be getting younger across the board initially with the move, and there was some feeling the defense would fall off. 

That hasn’t been the case. Cleveland is 5-3, even after a blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. However, that game was another disappointing showing for Browns pass rusher Jared Verse, the player Cleveland got back from Los Angeles in the Garrett deal.

Jared Verse has been a tough add to this point

Verse was viewed as a player worth more than a first-round pick. The Browns landed him, along with a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick, in exchange for Garrett.

Cleveland had a lot of sack production to replace due to the 23 sacks Garrett totaled in 2025. So far, Verse has given the Browns zero sacks to help offset that number. 

The adjustment hasn’t been smooth in any way. Verse came from a 3-4 front with the Rams, and he is now part of a 4-3 defense in Cleveland. Through eight games, he has 13 pressures and 14 tackles to go along with those zero sacks.

The Steelers game didn’t help his case in Cleveland. After doing quite a bit of talking ahead of the matchup, Verse went out and did next to nothing against Pittsburgh, finishing with one pressure and one assisted tackle.

The Browns need Verse to be a better player for them the rest of the way, there’s no other way around it. That’s the whole reason they were comfortable taking him back in a trade for one of the best defenders in the NFL.

Todd Monken believes Verse is close to breaking through

Browns coach Todd Monken thinks Verse is on the cusp of putting it together, and he made his case for patience early week.

“I think it’s too early to say anything … love the way Jared works every day,” Monken said. “ I think it’s a matter of adapting to our style which is … there’s some things that aren’t as similar to what he was used to doing with the Rams and the attack style there. I think it is just a matter of time before he really gets comfortable in what we’re doing defensively.”

That’s what Cleveland better hope for the final nine guaranteed games this season. The Browns’ sack production is hanging on for now. They are tied for eighth in the NFL with 21 sacks, behind multiple other teams, with the Steelers leading the way at 26 sacks.

Week 9 against the Saints is a chance for a reset

There’s context to Verse’s struggles. He is only in his third NFL season, and he’s adjusting to moving across the country and playing for an outdoor team in a new system. There’s plenty of time for him to put it together, and he very well could.

Still, the early returns don’t look great on Verse, especially coming off his performance against Pittsburgh. The Browns didn’t trade Garrett to get a rotational rusher. They traded him for a player they expected to become the face of their pass rush.

Cleveland hits the road to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. He’s going to have a chance to change the conversation with a better showing in that one.