Jared Verse hasn't been what Browns fans expected (but there's a reason why)

The seismic nature of trading Myles Garrett was made palatable by the inclusion of Jared Verse, the 25-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler who the Cleveland Browns view as a pillar for their defense for the foreseeable future.

Browns fans immediately gravitated to Verse’s positive attitude and infectious energy as soon as he arrived in Berea. But it’s taking longer than expected for fans to feel Verse’s impact on the field.

Through two games, Verse has recorded just a 4.3% pressure rate, which ranks among the bottom tier in football. He has two total pressures and no sacks over his first 79 snaps as a Brown.

It’s still way too early to jump to conclusions about a player who produced plenty over his first two years in the league with the Los Angeles Rams. But this is a completely different situation, one that isn’t working in the young pass rusher’s favor right now.

Jared Verse is already learning how different life is as the Browns’ No. 1 edge rusher

There was a popular line that circulated the internet after the bombshell trade was finalized back on June 1: “Jared Verse isn’t Myles Garrett, but…”

Through two games, we’re seeing it. Not only is Verse struggling to impact the game like a true No. 1 edge rusher, but he’s not garnering the same hyper-focused attention that opposing offensive coordinators had to give to Garrett over the years. 

He’s definitely being keyed on, though. According to ESPN Research, the Jaguars double-teamed Verse on 12.5% and chipped him on 31.3% of his pass rushes in Week 1. Both of those numbers were up from his per-game averages with the Rams, per Browns beat reporter Daniel Oyefusi.

The Bucs have the luxury of left tackle Tristan Wirfs, and Verse was pretty much neutralized whenever he squared off against the three-time All-Pro on Sunday. Tampa Bay also slowed Verse and the Browns’ other edge rushers with a number of quick, horizontal passes.

Verse is a young, talented player who’s still developing a full pass-rushing repertoire. As a former Defensive Rookie of the Year, he’s used to seeing added attention in the form of chips and other post-snap obstacles.

In 2025, former coach Sean McVay called Verse into his office to show him a highlight reel of how much he affects the game, even when he’s not getting to the quarterback. Verse was “straining, pressing and sometimes frustrated,” per Nate Atkins of The Athletic, and he’s likely feeling the same way right now after such a slow start in Cleveland. 

The deck is currently stacked against Verse in the Browns’ evolving defense

The quiet part right now is that Verse is without a clear sidekick in Cleveland. The Browns’ most impactful rusher has been Mason Graham, and he plays along the interior. 

It’s easy to forget just how huge Alex Wright’s season-ending injury was during training camp. Verse no longer has elite running mates like Kobie Turner and Bryon Young to work off. Isaiah McGuire has flashed at times, but the current group behind Verse — McGuire, Sam Williams, and Derek Barnett — is uninspiring. 

Verse was never asked to shoulder a Myles-Garrett-like role in Los Angeles. He’s probably feeling the pressure to do just that right now.

Verse is too good to stay down for long, and his Rams tenure had similar ebbs and flows in terms of sack and pressure numbers. He’s still a raw player with only 12 career sacks to his name.

Now’s not the time to sound the alarm and lament a trade that fetched the Browns a first-round pick in 2027 along with Verse and additional draft capital. But Verse is not Garrett, and the Browns are not the Rams.

Fans should want to see more from their new prized pass rusher, but patience is required here. The big arrival everyone’s been waiting for could take some time, but it's coming.

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