Every blockbuster trade has a second chapter. When the Browns sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams this offseason, the deal was about more than the picks coming back to Cleveland. It was also a bet that Jared Verse could grow into the next face of the defense. Through 8 games of his Browns tenure, that bet is about to come with a hefty price tag, and the team cannot put off the decision for long.
Dan Labbe of the Orange and Brown Talk podcast laid out just how big that price could be.
“And the interesting thing with Jared is he would be the highest tier of that fifth-year option because he’s made two Pro Bowls. So that increases what that fifth-year option is worth. And it’s $27.958 million according to Over the Cap,” Labbe said.
Verse is still playing on the rookie contract he signed after the Rams made him the 19th overall pick in 2024. That deal is fully guaranteed, totals just over $15.1 million and carries a 2026 cap hit of roughly $2.2 million. It runs through the 2027 season, with a club option on top for 2028.
The option is where the math changes. Because Verse has 2 Pro Bowls on his résumé, his 5th-year option lands in the top tier, which is tied to the franchise tag. The $27.958 million Labbe cited is nearly 10 times his 2027 cap hit of about $2.86 million.
Once the option is exercised, that money also becomes fully guaranteed. The Browns have to make the call this coming spring, so they will have just 1 season of watching Verse in their own system before committing.
So far, that season has not made things any clearer. Through 8 games, Verse has 18 tackles and 6 quarterback hits, but he is still looking for his first sack as a Brown. He posted 12 sacks and 5 forced fumbles across 2 years with the Rams and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024.
There are reasons for patience. Verse went from outside linebacker in Los Angeles to defensive end in Mike Rutenberg’s 4-3 front. Verse may be putting so much into leading that he is not hunting for his own production. The effort and disruption have been there, but the finishing plays have not.
The Browns also have more than 1 path. Verse becomes eligible for an extension once this season ends, so Andrew Berry could try to work out a new deal before the option deadline. Cleveland could also pick up the option and keep negotiating, which locks in his 2028 price. Declining it would set him up for free agency after 2027, although the franchise tag would still be available.
The trade makes all of this trickier. Verse was the centerpiece of the Garrett return, along with 3 draft picks. Walking away from him would be hard to explain to Browns fans. Guaranteeing nearly $28 million to a player without a sack this year would be just as hard to defend.
The good news is that 9 games remain, starting Sunday in New Orleans. A strong finish from Verse would make this one of the easier calls Berry faces this offseason.
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