There is a lot of hope that the Cleveland Browns offense can finally improve a bit after back-to-back years as arguably the worst unit in the NFL. Even though starting quarterback Deshaun Watson has a lot of doubters, there are exciting reinforcements everywhere else and if Watson can produce a little bit, it could take a lot of pressure off the defense.
The Browns have to establish a new identity under new head coach Todd Monken, but for now, they’ll likely still be a squad that heavily relies on winning behind the defense and the running game. There are reasons for fans to believe the Browns can pull the upset on Sunday, namely the fact that Watson is 7-0 as a starter against Jacksonville, but the defense is going to have to answer one big question to convince a lot of fans that this team could be successful in 2026.
During a recent article for Cleveland.com, Mary Kay Cabot discussed Jared Verse’s debut as a focal point in this defense. He has massive shoes to fill as Myles Garrett’s heir, and Cabot stressed that there is a lot of pressure on him since he’ll now be expected to be the guy as opposed to just a guy.
“Life after Myles is a big question mark for me because we don’t really know exactly how Jared Verse is going to fare when he’s plucked off of the Rams defense and put onto the Cleveland Browns defense where he is going to be expected to be the guy,” Cabot said. “A lot is riding on him.”
Verse has steadily improved over his first two years in the league and hasn’t missed a game, which is a great sign for the 25-year-old. The Los Angeles Rams also got blown out earlier this week and Garrett didn’t record a single pressure, so a big performance from Verse could immediately sway some fans who were skeptical about the trade to his side of the fence.
Nobody is expecting 23 sacks from Verse, but if he can continue emerging as a leader and generate 10-12 sacks, he will have done his job and you won’t hear many fans with any issues about the trade. It’s tough to deal away the face of your franchise, but it’s rare to land someone like this in return who can step in so seamlessly to ease the pain.
This is going to be one of the most interesting subplots to watch on Sunday against Jacksonville. A big debut performance from Verse could go a long way toward changing the narrative around this team in 2026.
NEXT: 2 Reasons The Browns Can Beat The Jaguars
