Jared Verse is already making waves in Cleveland, and not just because of the trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams.
The move put Verse in a spot plenty of people thought would be rough from the start. He went from a top contender to a rebuilding Browns team, from playing with Matthew Stafford at quarterback to landing in a franchise that has spent a long time searching for one. That’s why so many fans and media members quickly labeled the deal a bad break for Verse.
But the defender didn’t waste much time pushing back on that narrative. After his first practice, he said Cleveland doesn’t prepare like a losing team, and that was enough to start winning over Browns fans.
Now Verse is taking the same upbeat view when it comes to the quarterback room. On Wednesday’s episode of Good Morning Football, he was asked what he had seen so far from Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, and he didn’t hesitate to praise both.
“These are two great quarterbacks," Verse said. "So far I've just seen two elite quarterbacks battling it out.”
That answer set off plenty of eye-rolling, and it’s not hard to see why. Watson hasn’t been elite in over five years, while Sanders still has to establish himself as an elite NFL quarterback. The Browns’ quarterback situation has been one of the most criticized in the league, so the positive spin didn’t land well with everyone.
Verse, though, is speaking from a different vantage point than the outside critics. He’s been around both quarterbacks up close, and that’s clearly shaped how he sees them. He said he likes the way they work.
He also broke down what stands out about each one. Verse pointed to Watson’s veteran presence, even with the recent struggles, and said Sanders brings a confidence that stands out. He added that Sanders can make throws that leave people confused, in the best way.
Both quarterbacks will try to build on those traits as they battle in training camp for the starting job. And while plenty of people around the league are laughing at Verse’s comments now, he may end up getting the last laugh in 2026 if one of his teammates proves him right.
In Other News...
Browns May Be Headed For A Dillon Gabriel Outcome Fans Hate
Dillon Gabriel entered Browns camp with a clear path to work ahead of rookie Shedeur Sanders, but the early-season shuffle has only made the quarterback picture murkier. The third-round pick lost his spot quickly, yet his place on the roster still looks far from settled, especially with Cleveland weighing how many passers it wants to carry and how the depth chart might look once the dust settles.
Zac Jacksons read on the situation suggests Gabriel may not be going anywhere soon, even if the Browns keep sorting through other young arms and roster math. Gabriels rookie contract gives Cleveland plenty of control, and his profile still fits the kind of backup role teams like to protect, but the bigger question is whether the Browns will view him as part of their long-term quarterback plan or as a player whose value could be tested by late-summer competition and possible trade interest. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Hit With Another Brutal National Label Before 2026 Begins
The Browns are entering another offseason with plenty of change and very little certainty, which is exactly why a recent preseason power ranking landed with such a harsh edge. FanSideds Jason La Canfora placed Cleveland at No. 30, a reminder that national skepticism is still following the franchise even after a reset that includes new head coach Todd Monken and a reworked offensive line built around first-round pick Spencer Fano.
The bigger issue is that Cleveland still does not have a settled answer at quarterback, with the competition expected to stretch into camp. Add in the loss of Myles Garrett and the Browns are trying to convince the league they have a real direction, even as outside observers continue to see a team stuck in the middle of a rebuild and searching for proof that this version can move forward. [Read more 🡒]
Which Browns Players Are Truly Worth A First Round Pick
An ESPN column from Bill Barnwell has Browns fans doing the kind of roster math that always sparks debate this time of year: which players around the league are actually valuable enough to bring back a first-round pick in a trade. The piece uses Cleveland as a lens for that conversation, sorting through names and trying to separate true premium assets from players who are merely good, useful or still too unproven to command that kind of return.
Barnwells list leaves room for plenty of argument, which is exactly the point. He sees some Browns as the type of players who could headline a deal for a single first-rounder, while others would take more than that to pry away, and a few just missed the cut altogether. It is the sort of exercise that says as much about how the league values certain positions and age curves as it does about Cleveland itself, and it gives Browns followers another reason to wonder which pieces of the roster would draw the most interest if the phone ever started ringing. [Read more 🡒]