New Cleveland Browns star Jared Verse dropped 14 spots on ESPN's top 100 NFL players list.
New Cleveland Browns star Jared Verse made ESPN's top 100 NFL players list again.
However, he dropped 14 spots.
In 2025, Verse was ranked No. 55. This year, he's at No. 69.
Verse won the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year award with the Los Angeles Rams. He enters this season with 12.0 sacks, 71 solo tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 45 QB hits.
Last season, Verse had 58 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 27 QB hits and three forced fumbles. The Browns acquired the DE from the Rams in the blockbuster Myles Garrett trade.
Verse has big shoes to fill in Cleveland since Garrett won two Defensive Player of the Year awards with the Browns. However, Verse has made it crystal clear to everyone that he's not in Cleveland to replace Garrett.
"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."
It will be fascinating to see how Verse performs in his first season with the Browns, who open the 2026 campaign against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Verse is deeply respected by his peers, as he made the NFL Top 100 Players list again.
In 2025, Verse was at No. 53. This year? He's at No. 35.
Verse produced 99 QB pressures across his first two seasons, the third-most behind Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons (119) and Garrett (109).
The Browns play the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts this season. New coach Todd Monken is starting Deshaun Watson at QB in Week 1.
All signs point to Cleveland missing the playoffs this season, but maybe Verse can put up strong numbers and make his third Pro Bowl.
