Jared Verse Reveals He Was ‘Upset' After Blockbuster Myles Garrett Trade
On Monday, June 1, the Cleveland Browns pulled off a trade that flipped the entire NFL on its head. They dealt reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett, fresh off a record-shattering 23-sack season, to the Los Angeles Rams.
In return, Cleveland received edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a 2029 third-round pick.
But the real headline dropped Wednesday morning when Verse met with Browns reporters on his first official day with the team, and told the truth, admitting he was hurt when he found out he was coming to Cleveland.
“It caught me by surprise. I loved L.A. I loved the coaches, the organization, my teammates, everybody who was a part of it … It was upsetting. I was upset for a good little bit of time. But you’re an athlete, you understand the nature of the business,” Verse said.
“I’m happy to be a part of the Browns. I’m happy that they believed in me and that they were able to make that trade and bring me here. I truly do believe in everybody in the locker room, but it was upsetting at first,” he added.
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Verse arrives in Cleveland as one of the most exciting young players in football.
Selected 19th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State, he hit the ground running. As a rookie, he recorded 66 tackles, 18 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in 17 games, winning the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award.
Year two was even better. He led all edge rushers in QB hits with 27 and ranked third in hurries with 64, finishing with 58 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, 11 tackles for loss, and 36 pressures, tied for the ninth most in the NFL.
Verse was ascending fast, and everybody knew it.
He has been a Pro Bowl player in each of his first two seasons and now carries 12.0 career sacks at just 25 years old.
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Verse continues to get better, and if the Browns’ rebuild leads to a Super Bowl, he could realistically become the very best defender in the league over the next few years.
But for a Rams team looking to win right now behind a 38-year-old Matthew Stafford, a 33-year-old Davante Adams, and a looming monster Puka Nacua extension, getting a player like Garrett makes sense.
The deal, while shocking, works for both sides. The Rams get arguably the best player in football for a team already in Super Bowl contention. The Browns get the future version of that, plus three draft picks to build around him.
Verse is also from Dayton, Ohio, making this a return to his home state as he becomes the new face of their rebuild.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 1:55 PM.