BEREA, Ohio — Jared Verse began his first practice with the Cleveland Browns last Tuesday working on a key mechanical change: converting from a two-point outside linebacker stance to the three- and four-point stances he will use as a defensive end in Cleveland’s 4-3 front. Verse, 25, spent his first two NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
Verse is a two-time Pro Bowler and the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He told reporters the Browns’ system suits his strengths. “This is an attacking front, and that’s kind of my style,” Verse said. “I’ll be attacking. I want to get to it. I want to have a defined situation, just be able to do my thing every time without having to think too much or without having to slow down and read keys.”
Coach Todd Monken said the franchise sees a “world of upside” in Verse and believes Cleveland’s scheme, which emphasizes penetrating the offensive line, could boost his production. “This will allow him to do one thing, and that is run off the ball, run into a dark room and disrupt,” Monken said. “Can’t wait to see it.” General manager Andrew Berry cited the team’s valuation of Verse, plus three draft picks, as a factor that made the organization comfortable trading Myles Garrett to the Rams.
Since entering the league as the No. 19 pick in the 2024 draft, Verse has been among the most disruptive edge rushers. He has 99 pressures since 2024, trailing only Micah Parsons (119) and Garrett (109), according to ESPN Research. Verse ranks 18th in pressure rate (11.2%) and 13th in QB hits (45) in that span, though his 12 sacks over two seasons show pressures have not always translated to sacks.
Usage is also expected to change. Verse had 39 pass-coverage snaps in his first two seasons, compared with Garrett’s 18 such snaps since 2024 and just two in 2025. Even without Garrett, the Browns showed strong pressure numbers in limited situations last season: on 90 dropbacks without Garrett, Cleveland produced a 34.4% pressure rate versus a 35.7% season rate, which would have ranked eighth in the NFL. Garrett was chipped a league-high 139 pass-rush snaps in 2025, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
