Can Jared Verse win the award that Myles Garrett won twice with the Cleveland Browns?
New Cleveland Browns star Jared Verse has been named a dark-horse candidate to win the 2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award by Alex Kay of Bleacher Report.
The Browns acquired Verse from the Los Angeles Rams in the blockbuster Myles Garrett trade. Garrett won Defensive Player of the Year twice with Cleveland, including last season.
"Considering the flashes he's shown over the past two years and the expanded opportunity he'll have as the face of the Browns' defense, Verse is a great bet to make good on his claim," Kay wrote.
Verse won the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Award with the Rams. He enters next season with 12.0 sacks, 71 solo tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 45 QB hits.
"I'm not here to fill [Garrett's] shoes," Verse said. "I'm here to bring my own ... I'm here to work, and I'm here to be the best version of me. And the best version of me is going to be the best defensive player in the league. And the best defensive player in the league is going to play for the best defense in the league."
Cleveland went 54-79-1 in the Garrett era. Garrett finished his Browns career with 125.5 sacks, 293 solo tackles, 149 tackles for loss and 239 QB hits. He made seven Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams and won two Defensive Player of the Year Awards.
However, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, Garrett wasn't "universally loved" with the Browns and Verse may actually be a better leader than the future Hall of Famer.
"While Garrett was respected and revered by his teammates, he wasn’t necessarily universally loved," Cabot wrote. "And while he evolved as a leader over the years, he wasn’t the great unifier the Browns always hoped he’d be, often keeping to his tight inner circle away from team headquarters.
"Early indications are that Verse, who came to town with a wide smile, a big heart and open arms, will be more of a force multiplier and unifier than Garrett, who’s not as gregarious as Verse, the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year."
It will be fascinating to see how Verse performs in his first season with the Browns.
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