The Los Angeles Rams drafted Jared Verse 19th overall out of Florida State in 2024, and he won Defensive Rookie of the Year that season. He's earned Pro Bowl honors in each of his first two NFL seasons and is widely viewed as one of the best young pass rushers in the league. Now, he's a franchise cornerstone for the Cleveland Browns.
The Rams sent Verse to Cleveland in a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett on June 1. The Browns also received a 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 second-round pick, and a conditional 2029 third-round pick. At the time, the Rams looked like the winners of the trade, acquiring a two-time Defensive Player of the Year coming off a record 23-sack season.
But Garrett has barely seen the field due to injury, and Verse is now the face of a 3-1 team that just knocked off its division rival, edging the Steelers 27-24 in a dramatic finish on Thursday night. After the primetime win, Verse called out the Steelers for playing dirty and said he's looking forward to the next matchup. "They were talking crazy.
I was telling them, 'You're double-teaming, y'all sliding, y'all garbage.' I don't got no respect for anyone who plays dirty and does extra [expletive] after the game," Verse said. "So I can't wait to see them again. It's going to be a good time." More news: NFL Insider Hints Browns Could Shop Shedeur Sanders for the Right Price The game was a tense divisional matchup with a chippy, emotional finish, and it was Verse's first time experiencing the rivalry.
Both sides were physical throughout, and Verse kept jawing at Steelers players and had to be pulled away by teammates more than once. It wasn't all clean for Verse either. He was flagged twice for offside penalties, and the second one moved the Steelers' two-point try to the 1-yard line, which let Aaron Rodgers sneak in the tying score late in the game.
Overall, the Browns committed 14 penalties for 88 yards, while Pittsburgh was called for eight penalties for 50 yards. More news: Giants Face Harsh Backlash After Trading for Quarterback JJ McCarthy More news: NFL Insider Reveals Shocking Truth About Marvin Harrison Jr’s Trade Value Cleveland lost the possession battle, managed just 260 total yards on offense, and had nearly twice as many penalties. But a win is a win, and the Browns now sit atop the AFC North.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
