Jared Verse’s first impression of the Browns as a team is exactly what Cleveland fans need to hear after the Myles Garrett trade
Jared Verse is a major addition for the Cleveland Browns from the Myles Garrett trade. Cleveland had to have him and Verse’s first impression of the team is promising.
The Cleveland Browns had talks to trade Myles Garrett for some time with the Los Angeles Rams before it eventually came together. There was one thing for certain with this trade: the Browns had to have EDGE Jared Verse.
“He’s obviously a huge part of this return for us. Jared is an outstanding football player, former Defensive Rookie of the Year, two-time original ballot Pro Bowler,” Browns GM Andrew Berry said earlier in the week.
“He’s a perfect DNA match for our attacking front. He’s really a terror in both phases, both as a run defender and a pass rusher, and we are really, really excited to add him to our team. He allows us to continue to play defense at a high level, which has been our standard over the past several seasons.”
Verse arrived on Tuesday evening in Cleveland and he was introduced by the Browns on Wednesday. One of the two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher’s comments is worth noting.
Jared Verse’s comments on the Browns’ practice habits are good news
“You can tell how a team is by how they practice,” Verse said on Wednesday. “You see losing teams practice terribly, you see great teams practice amazingly. It translates, that’s not a losing team out there. The way everybody was moving — I didn’t get to get into the team situations today — that’s going to be another day. But the way these boys are moving, this isn’t a losing team.”
Verse took part in individual drills on Wednesday as he gets acclimated in Berea. It isn’t fair to expect the 25-year-old to be anything close to the player Garrett is. The Browns aren’t expecting it, them getting three draft picks including a 2027 first tells the story. Still, Verse is going to be a key part of Cleveland’s defense and a building block going forward.
After being a first-round pick in 2024, Verse won a Defensive Rookie of the Year award along with the two Pro Bowls. After making 66 tackles with 4.5 sacks as a rookie, Verse had 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season. A year three jump should be expected in his first season with the Browns.
Cleveland bringing back an Ohio native who sounds like he’s excited for the opportunity with the Browns is a positive from the Garrett trade. His first take on how the Browns practice is a testament to the ship Todd Monken is running.