Jared Verse practiced with the Browns for the first time on Wednesday and told the media the trade that brought him to Cleveland initially caught him by surprise. He said the move felt upsetting, but hearing how the Browns prioritized his addition has him feel
Jared Verse didn’t just arrive in Cleveland—he walked into a new routine on Wednesday, practicing with the Browns for the first time. Then he sat down with the media to talk about the trade that moved him across the country.
Verse came to the Browns along with a package of draft picks as part of the trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Rams. The key pieces of that swap still frame how Verse understands his own change in circumstances: the 2024 first-round pick and the defensive rookie of the year were part of the deal.
When the trade first landed, Verse said his initial response wasn’t positive. “It caught me by surprise,” Verse said. He also made it clear how much he liked his previous situation in Los Angeles. “I love L.A. I love the coaches, the organization, my teammates, the staff, the fans. I love the whole vibe of L.A. It was upsetting.”.
But the shock didn’t linger forever. Verse described a period of feeling upset “for a good little bit of time. ” then placing it in the bigger picture athletes learn to live with. “But when you’re an athlete you understand the nature of business. Everybody does what they think is best for their business and that’s the situation that I’m in.”.
By the time he spoke on Wednesday, the tone had shifted. Verse said he’s happy to be in Cleveland—not just because the trade is done. but because the Browns’ decision made sense to him. “I’m happy to be a part of the Browns. I’m happy that they believe in me and that they were able to make that trade and bring me here.”.
He emphasized one thing as he begins his Browns tenure: he’s not approaching the start of his time with the mindset of replacing Myles Garrett. “I’m not approaching the start of my Browns tenure with the mindset of replacing Myles Garrett,” Verse said. His focus, instead, is personal and direct—being the best version of himself.
Verse said he is focused only on being “the best me” and believes that player will be the best player in the league. “If that’s how things play out, it will be hard for anyone in Cleveland to be upset about how things played out this week.”
The sequence of events leaves a clear impression from Verse’s perspective: the trade came as a surprise. but the Browns’ belief in him is what helped turn that initial upset into something more settled. And with his message centered on his own performance rather than the name attached to the role he’s filling. the early goal is already defined—make the change work by becoming his best at the next level.
Jared Verse Browns Cleveland Myles Garrett Rams trade draft picks 2024 first-round pick defensive rookie of the year L.A. player statement