Jared Verse knows exactly what people have been saying about his game, and he’s not ducking it.
The Browns will head into 2026 without Myles Garrett on the roster for the first time since 2016, but they do have another edge presence in Verse after acquiring him in the offseason trade that sent Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Verse is already a two-time Pro Bowler entering his third season, yet the conversation around him has centered on one familiar knock: too much power, not enough variety.
That criticism has followed him because of how he wins. Fans and analysts have pointed to the same pattern - when Verse can’t simply run through an offensive tackle, he’s been accused of lacking the countermoves to finish the job. On Thursday, Verse addressed that head-on and said he spent the offseason attacking the problem.
“The biggest thing I did this whole camp and this whole offseason was I focused on losing. I wanted to go out there and I wanted to lose as much as possible with these moves and try different stuff, try things I'm not comfortable with. … Try things I haven’t done in the season and go out there and lose and figure out what works and what doesn't.
I tried moves and they would kill everyone. … I’m adding that to my bag.
I tried moves I had no business trying those moves. … Let’s scrap this one.
… I’ve learned a lot and I got exactly where I wanna be in my bag now.”
That kind of approach says plenty about where Verse is mentally. He already plays like a productive young star, but instead of settling in, he used the offseason to test himself, fail, adjust and build out the rest of his pass-rushing toolkit.
The numbers back up why this matters. As a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams, Verse played 17 games and finished with 4.5 sacks, 66 tackles and 11 tackles for a loss, then earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
He followed that with a second season that bumped his sack total to 7.5. Through two years, that’s 12 sacks - but also 69 total pressures, a sign of how often he’s been in the backfield even when the sack column hasn’t always spiked.
Now Verse says he’s better equipped to do more than just win with force. For Browns fans, that’s the encouraging part. For everyone else, it’s the warning sign.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Already Have A New Reason To Watch Myles Garrett
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Myles Garrett also gave Browns followers a fresh storyline to track, even from afar, in his debut with the Los Angeles Rams. He was limited by a knee issue and played only part-time in the Week 1 loss, then said he needed to improve as the Rams head into a 10-day break before their next game. Los Angeles still looks built to contend this season, which only makes Garretts next steps more worth watching for anyone in Cleveland still keeping one eye on their former star. [Read more 🡒]
Browns QB Search Could Get An Early Defining Moment This Weekend
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This weekend could offer an early glimpse at how serious that search might become, even if nothing definitive is decided yet. Cleveland owns two first-round picks in 2027, which gives the front office the kind of draft capital that can change the math if it decides a move up is necessary, and the stakes only grow when the team starts sorting through whether either passer is the kind of prospect worth building around. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Face A Week 1 O-Line Decision They Didn't Want
Week 1 already has a way of testing offensive lines, and Cleveland may be dealing with one of its own before the opening game even settles in. Teven Jenkins did not practice because of a back issue, putting the Browns in a spot they probably wanted to avoid this early and opening the door for rookie Austin Barber to potentially get his first NFL action.
The rest of the weeks practice report offered the usual mix of participation notes, but Jenkins status is the one that matters most for a unit trying to find its footing. Around the league, quarterback injuries and uneven early performances have already added to the sense that September can turn quickly, and for Cleveland, the immediate concern is whether it can keep the front five intact long enough to start the season cleanly. [Read more 🡒]