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How Browns' newest DE Jared Verse will fit on defense
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- How Browns' newest DE Jared Verse will fit on defense
After all the offseason drama surrounding the Cleveland Browns and star defensive end Myles Garrett , general manager Andrew Berry finally struck a deal with the Los Angeles Rams to move on from the veteran playmaker on Monday afternoon.
While many fans are focused on the draft capital that was included in the massive deal, the Browns also managed to find Garrett's replacement on the defensive line in former 2024 first-round pick Jared Verse . The addition of the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year now gives newly-hired defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg an exciting young core of defensive linemen, with Verse set to join EDGE rushers in Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire .
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Now, with all the new, young pieces for the Browns heading into the upcoming season, the question becomes how Verse will blend with the rest of the defense in 2026 and beyond.
What to expect from Verse with Browns
Sep 7, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse (8) pressures Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) during the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Verse, a once highly-touted pass rusher out of Florida State, has quickly become one of the best defenders in the NFL throughout his first two seasons with the Rams. During his rookie campaign, Verse put the entire league on notice, finishing with 88 tackles, 66 quarterback hurries, and eight sacks. In addition to his strong efforts throughout the 2024 season, the 26-year-old playmaker continued his dominant stretch into last season, as he recorded 100 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, and nine sacks.
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One of the most important stats from Verse's two-year NFL career thus far that perfectly summarizes his style of play is the 99 quarterback pressures he's accumulated with the Rams. This margin is the third-most amongst all NFL pass rushers since 2024, trailing behind none other than Garrett and Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons .
As someone who has lined up on the outside of the offensive tackle for a majority of his career, Verse's main calling card as a defensive end is his elite bull-rush ability against opposing linemen. Standing at 6-foot-4, 260 lbs., Verse has demonstrated countless times that he is able to overpower tackles at the NFL level, while also possesses adequate agility off the line of scrimmage. This lethal combination allows him to collapse the pocket on a consistent basis and was a key reason why the Rams racked up 47 sacks in 2025.
Looking at how Verse fits into the Browns' lineup for 2026 and beyond, the stout playmaker will have an immediate impact on defense in 2026. In addition to becoming the team's top pass rusher in 2026, Verse's presence on the defensive line will create more opportunities for both Wright and McGuire to attack opposing quarterbacks, which is something that Garrett was able to generate with Cleveland.
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Will Verse have as much of an impact as Garrett had on the Browns' defense? Probably not. Garrett is a one-of-a-kind player; however, the addition of Verse will not only give Cleveland a true No. 1 pass rusher for the foreseeable future, but a defensive end that can create more ways for the rest of the Browns' defense to have an impact.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: How Browns' newest DE Jared Verse will fit on defense
