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The one thing Jared Verse must become immediately to justify the Myles Garrett trade
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- The one thing Jared Verse must become immediately to justify the Myles Garrett trade
Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images
The Browns traded Myles Garrett for a different timeline, and Jared Verse is part of the return that has to keep the defence from going empty while Cleveland rebuilds.
He arrived in a June 1 trade with the Rams, which also brought in three picks over the next three years – a first in 2027, a second in 2028, and a third in 2029. Garrett had spent nine years with Cleveland and held a no-trade clause, so this move needed his approval. The team had previously said they wouldn't deal him even for two first-rounders.
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Jared Verse is coming off an excellent rookie season with the Rams. He played all 17 games, made eight starts, and recorded seven sacks and 15 QB hits. The Browns now need him to carry more weight on their defensive front after losing their top pass rusher.
Cleveland's pass rush finished last season ranked fifth by Pro Football Focus (PFF) but lost not only Garrett but also Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (seven sacks) and Dalvin Tomlinson (5.5 sacks). Jordan Elliott is still around from last year's group and was steady as an every-week starter inside. Free-agent addition Alim McNeill also gives them some stability up front.
Photo by Kevin Terrell/Getty Images
What does the Browns lose after the Myles Garrett trade?
Even though he wasn't as dominant last year as in previous seasons, he still recorded seven sacks despite missing four games early on due to injury – keeping his streak alive of at least seven sacks every year of his career.
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The move shifted Garrett's contract onto LA's books: $32 million guaranteed this year and another $32 million non-guaranteed next season when he turns 30. That money helped fill gaps for Cleveland elsewhere on their roster.
Verse, now 25, has already made a name for himself at a key position. He's got two Pro Bowl appearances and took home the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2024. Over his first two seasons, he put up 12 sacks, 124 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles across 34 games. He also scored off a fumble recovery during the 2024 playoffs. Since entering the league, only Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett have generated more pressures than Verse's 99, according to ESPN Research.
No one's expecting him to fill Garrett's shoes straight away. Garrett set the single-season sack record with 23 in 2025 — a mark no one else on Cleveland even came close to matching. Still, Verse gives them enough presence off the edge to keep things from completely falling apart up front.
Cap management dictated timing
The timing of this move is tied directly to financial strategy. Cleveland still has about $86 million in dead cap space tied up in Watson's contract.
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Only three starters remain from their draft classes between 2018 and 2022, and they went without first-round picks in both 2023 and 2024, also because of deals involving Watson. This move didn't start the rebuild; it simply made it impossible to ignore any longer.
Garrett walked away with 125.5 sacks, and was the face of the franchise for nearly 10 years. Cleveland opted for flexibility rather than holding on to their most reliable difference-maker.
For this trade to pay off, Verse needs to be more than just a replacement — he has to become the new anchor of a changing defence, while the Browns use their draft haul to address holes across the roster, including another potential run at quarterback in 2027.
If he develops into one of the league's top edge rushers, Cleveland can pitch this as a necessary reset built around a genuine football asset. But if he settles in as merely solid and the picks don't hit, it will look like they gave up their franchise player for little more than future hope.
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