EDGE Jared Verse was one of the key pieces of the Cleveland Browns acquired in the trade that sent defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. The former Florida State Seminole joins Cleveland after an explosive first two seasons in the NFL.
After being selected with the No. 19 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Verse has established himself as a top pass rusher. Last season, he was the 11th-highest graded (83.9) edge defender in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
However, he has some big shoes to fill, essentially serving as the replacement for Garrett, who has been named the Defensive Player of the Year twice in the past three seasons.
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He also switches between teams, coming off very different seasons. Last year, the Rams fell just short of a Super Bowl appearance, losing in the NFC Championship Game. On the other hand, the Browns went just 5-12 and have not made the playoffs since 2023.
However, he believes Cleveland is ready to turn things around. After his first practice with the team on Wednesday, Verse spoke to the media, claiming the Browns don't look like a losing team.
“You see, losing teams practice terribly,” Verse said. “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 you know, get into the team situations today, that’s gonna be another day, but the way them boys were moving, this isn’t a losing team.”
The Browns don't have high expectations going into the 2026 season. According to DraftKings, they have the worst odds (+1900) of winning the AFC North and the fifth worst (+550) to make the playoffs.
With two Pro Bowl appearances and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award under his belt, though, Verse aims to produce at a high level and be a key piece in helping Cleveland change its trajectory.
