Jared Verse’s first season with the Browns has reached a rough patch, and the numbers are making it harder to explain away.
Eight games into his Cleveland tenure, Verse still hasn’t logged his first sack. That alone doesn’t tell the whole story for an edge rusher, but the deeper metrics aren’t doing him any favors.
Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi cited ESPN Analytics on Thursday, noting that Verse’s 3.3% pressure rate ranks 185th out of 198 qualifying players. His EDGE pass-rush win rate is 10.8%, which ranks 57th out of 58 qualifying players.
Verse said Thursday that the slow start has been tied to a lack of chances in obvious passing situations.
"I think I've not done myself a service of playing the way I wanted to play,” Verse said on Thursday. “I think it's been a lot of attention that’s been focused on me not doing enough on this aspect, that aspect.
I don't think we've been getting enough third-and-longs for me to put myself in position to get the stats and stuff like that. But I think stats can be rather confusing for a lot of people."
But Oyefusi paired that with a number that undercuts the argument: "This season, the average conversion distance for Browns opponents has been 8.7 yards, the fourth-longest mark in the NFL," he wrote.
That leaves the Browns in an awkward spot. They have a trade deadline approaching, and GM Andrew Berry and the front office will have to decide whether to spend premium draft capital on another impact pass rusher. FanSided’s Zachary Rotman recently pointed to the Chargers’ Tui Tuipulotu as a possible target.
There’s also the long-term piece. Verse, 25, is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler, and he’s working in a new system. His contract extension isn’t a pressing issue yet, with Verse not becoming extension eligible until 2027, but the Browns still have to think ahead.
For now, though, the production just isn’t matching the profile. Fellow newcomer Sam Williams and practice-squad call-up Sam Kamara have both recorded sacks this season, while Verse is still waiting for his first.
His comments before last week’s rematch at Pittsburgh also added fuel to the fire. Verse took aim at the Steelers with a blunt message:
“They were talking crazy,” he said. “I’m like, y’all double teaming, y’all sliding, y’all garbage.
I was talking crazy to them. I don’t got no respect for anybody that plays too dirty, that does too much extra s- after the game, excuse my French.
So, I can’t wait to see them again. It’s gonna be a good time when I see them again.”
The Browns lost that game 27-6, and Verse’s impact was limited. Per Pro Football Focus, he finished with one missed tackle and one QB pressure, and his only box-score contribution was an assisted tackle.
His most notable snap came on special teams, when Steelers lineman Mason McCormick illegally lifted and slammed him to the turf. Verse later said he spoke with teammates about the lack of reaction to the play.
"That honestly could have put me in a position to not be able to finish the season, put me in a position to change my life in a very bad aspect,” he said. “The lack of reaction by those around me had upset me a lot."
Verse still matters to the Browns’ future, but the conversation around him is getting louder because the play hasn’t caught up to the reputation. For now, the simplest answer is the one the Browns need most: less talking, more production.
In Other News...
Browns Deadline Debate Now Centers On Two Starters They Could Move
As the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches, the Browns are still weighing whether to act like buyers or sellers, and the conversation inside the building has centered on two very different needs. Quarterback help remains on the radar, along with possible upgrades on the offensive line, but any move will have to fit a roster that is still trying to sort out which pieces are part of the long-term plan.
Jerry Jeudy has emerged as a logical name to watch because of the inconsistency in his production and the salary attached to him, while slot cornerback Harden has stayed in the starting lineup even as his play has lagged behind. He has also been targeted enough to post an ugly passer rating against, which only adds to the sense that Cleveland could be forced to make some uncomfortable decisions if it wants to reshape the roster before the deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Slow Starts Keep Making Their Biggest Problems Even Worse
The Browns latest loss to Pittsburgh only sharpened a problem that has been hanging over them for weeks. In a 27-6 defeat, Cleveland again struggled to run the ball and to slow the run on the other side, leaving the offense in obvious catch-up mode before it ever had a chance to settle in. Head coach Todd Monken pointed to the same issue afterward, saying falling behind early has made it harder for the team to do the things it needs to do well, from protecting the quarterback to getting after the passer.
It has become a familiar and costly pattern for Cleveland, which has been outscored badly in the first quarter this season. And the timing could make the next stretch even trickier, with Shedeur Sanders potentially in line to start if Deshaun Watson remains in concussion protocol. For a team already fighting to find balance, the margin for another slow opening is getting thinner by the week. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Suddenly Have A Shedeur Sanders Decision Fans Need To Watch
Deshaun Watson is still the Browns starting quarterback despite the concussion that has put his availability in question, and that leaves Cleveland in a familiar spot with its quarterback room suddenly under a brighter spotlight. Shedeur Sanders is expected to start in Week 9, giving the Browns another look at a young passer who arrived with plenty of attention and has been viewed as a backup with potential.
The situation has also stirred the usual trade chatter around Clevelands crowded quarterback group, but the Browns are not currently looking to move any of their young passers. Sanders, who was once considered by the Ravens, now has a chance to show he belongs in the conversation for more than just depth, and the next stretch of games should tell the team plenty about how it wants to handle that decision. [Read more 🡒]