The Cleveland Browns shook the league to its core this offseason when they traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. There were mixed reviews of the trade package they received, but most people agreed that Jared Verse was promising enough to make fans feel a little less disheartened.
Fast forward to today after eight games, it's hard to feel the same way. Moral victories are great, and Verse has made a positive impact in the locker room. But it would be nice to see him record a sack here and there.
With the Los Angeles Chargers sitting at 0-7, FanSided's Zachary Rotman predicted the Browns will be all over pass rusher Tuli Tuipulotu ahead of the NFL trade deadline, which arrives on Friday evening.
"The Chargers should be trying to extend him. Is that actually going to happen, though? A deal has not been agreed to, and with Tuipulotu set to hit free agency this offseason, time is running out for one to get done," wrote Rotman.
Tuli Tuipulotu is exactly the kind of player Browns should get aggressive for
Tuipulotu broke out last season and has been one of the few bright spots for the Chargers this season. He and the team don't seem to be on the same page on a contract extension, and the clock is ticking.
Jim Harbaugh and company have been adamant about wanting to keep their core guys despite their disastrous start to the season. Granted, they have every reason to want to keep Tuipulotu long-term, but he's scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2027.
Like Verse, Tuipulotu hasn't reached his prime. At 24, he's one of the most underrated pass rushers in the game, racking up 30 tackles (16 solo), three tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, three sacks, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles, and one interception in just seven games this season.
That would be a major upgrade in terms of Verse's production (18 tackles, four tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits over eight games). Verse insists that he is unbothered by his lack of sacks, but again, that's also a big part of what he's getting paid to do.
Tuipulotu is also one of the NFL's best edge players at stuffing the run. His 17 run stops rank third among 111 eligible edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus, and he's played the second-most run-defense snaps (172). The Browns rank 24th in run defense (126.9 rushing yards per game), so Tuipulotu would help fill a need.
The Browns shouldn't let their hot start to the season derail them from their current course. They don't need to go all-in and make flashy moves to make a postseason run this season. They need to focus on 2027 and beyond.
That's precisely why going after Tuipulotu makes perfect sense. He should be an integral part of this team's defense for years to come, even if they have to pay a steep price to trade for him and give him an extension.
In an ideal world, Verse will also figure things out and finally live up to expectations, but there should be plenty of room for everyone. The Browns don't have a bona fide edge rusher right now. Trading for Tuipulotu would help solve that problem.
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