Browns general manager Andrew Berry said Tuesday that Verse was a “huge part” of Garrett’s return and indicated that such a deal would not have happened without him. By getting a young pass rusher in the deal, Cleveland can not only get an adequate replacement for Garrett right away, but a junior who is still playing on a team-friendly contract.
Following Garrett is an unenviable position for Verse, however, the 25-year-old isn’t worried about the expectations that come with replacing the Browns’ all-time leader.
“I’m not here to fill his shoes,” Verse told reporters Wednesday. “I’m here to bring my own. I’m here to win and be the best version of me. The best version of me is going to be the best defender in the league. The best defender in the league is going to play for the best defense in the league. That’s what I stand for.”
Browns head coach Todd Monken expressed his excitement about acquiring Verse and the future Cleveland has in the three draft picks (2027 first round, 2028 second round, 2029 third round) it received in the Garrett trade.
“He’ll fit us like a glove,” Monken said. “… You wish you had unlimited time to meet him and try to get him up to speed, but just his willingness to get here, be here in the morning, get to meetings and be on the training ground says a lot about him.
Verse joins a defense that has finished in the top five in yards allowed per game in two of the last three seasons with Garrett setting the record. With Verse helping to fill that void, the Browns still boast a talented defense headlined by five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and backed by a host of young talent, including defensive tackle Mason Graham and linebacker Carson Schwesinger — last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
“We didn’t get any scrubs back,” former Browns defensive end Alexander Wright said of Verse. “We got quite a dog.”
Verse said he plans to bring his “violent” style of play to a Browns defense that has proven to be physical. Time will tell in the coming months and seasons how well he adjusts to a new team and city, but Verse is eager to prove himself after being involved in one of the NFL’s biggest blockbuster trades in recent memory.
“It definitely puts a chip on my shoulder,” Verse said. “You know, when I was with the Rams, I was still learning how to play D-end. Still learning how to be a football player, an NFL player, and how to play at this next level. And the Browns, you know, got me now. I feel like they’re going to get the best out of me. They’re not going to get a half-finished project or something that needs to be worked on. This is doing this the best version of me, this is me. It’s going to be great.”