Jared Verse wasn’t just an extra piece of the Myles Garrett trade for the Cleveland Browns. He was practically the centerpiece of the deal.
According to ESPN, the Los Angeles Rams didn’t want to trade away Verse in their deal for Garrett, but the Browns refused to give up their star pass rusher if they weren’t getting Verse in return.
After initially discussing draft picks as the only compensation, the Rams caved and gave in to the Browns’ wishes to acquire Verse in exchange for Garrett. And as Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network, Verse was “someone the Cleveland Browns had eyes on for a long time.”
From ESPN’s story:
Talks heated up in earnest shortly after this year’s NFL draft. The Rams initially offered a package of picks in return for Garrett, but Cleveland held firm to its public stance of not dealing its defensive standout, according to sources.
The Browns told the Rams that no deal would get done without including the 25-year-old Verse, the Rams’ 2024 first-round pick who has had 12 sacks and 22 tackles for loss the past two seasons.
The Rams initially were not interested in moving Verse but eventually began to consider a package with him as long as the draft picks were adjusted appropriately, sources said.
Verse is a 25-year-old, two-time Pro Bowler, so it’s easy to see why the Browns wanted the Rams to include him in the deal. He helps mitigate the loss of Garrett, playing the same position with similar power and speed as the two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Plus, the Browns now have Verse under contract for three more years (including the fifth-year option) at a much lower cost than Garrett.
We don’t yet know the full terms of the deal, but it’s a good haul for Cleveland, acquiring a 2027 first-round pick, Verse and more draft compensation that’s still being finalized.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Report: Browns wouldn’t trade Myles Garrett unless Jared Verse was included
Reporting by Cameron DaSilva, Rams Wire / Rams Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
