The Cleveland Browns have a Jared Verse problem

Raise your hand if you have the same amount of sacks as Jared Verse. Congratulations. This is one of the rare times that a normally outrageous statement (such as this one) is true. With zero sacks on the year, Verse’s goose egg stands out like a sore thumb. The Cleveland Browns were counting on Verse to be a key part of their defense this season, and his failure to produce is becoming a rather large problem.

It would be different if Verse were to be dominating in other areas, but that is simply not the case. Verse has been a no-show across the board on defense. With 20 total tackles (four for loss) and six quarterback pressures in nine games, Verse is not exactly backing up his words with his play.

Meanwhile, the player Cleveland traded to acquire Verse, Myles Garrett, is having zero trouble in Los Angeles. Garrett may have missed a handful of games to start the year, but has more sacks (3) than Verse.

Is it fair to compare Jared Verse to Garrett? Well, no, not exactly. That just so happens to be the situation the Browns created for themselves this past offseason, so yeah, it’s gonna happen. Verse was advertised as being someone that could be plugged into Cleveland’s defense to make an impact from day one. He is making an impact, just not much of a positive one.

The Cleveland Browns got in their own way trading for Jared Verse

The issue with the trade for Verse is that he is not an adequate replacement for Garrett. Verse is someone you pair with Garrett to create a better defense. But you know, the front office is smarter than everyone and wanted to have the final say on Garrett’s time in a Cleveland Browns uniform.

Everyone remembers the ridiculous comments Andrew Berry made after Garrett requested a trade prior to last season right? And the subsequent dunking on Berry by Garrett? Yeah, that matters here. Berry clearly had his feelings hurt and wanted to show who is in charge. This is not quality roster management. It’s being petty for the sake of being petty, and that is how toxic teams stay toxic.

This is not to say that Verse cannot become a productive player for the Cleveland Browns. However, it seems extremely far fetched to consider him ever having an impact anywhere remotely close to Garrett.