Jared Verse Says He was 'Really Messed Up' About Browns Trade, 'It Stung A Lot' Leaving Rams

Star pass-rusher Jared Verse revealed that he initially wasn't thrilled after getting traded from the Los Angeles Rams to the Cleveland Browns on June 1.

"In the moment I was really messed up about it," Verse said in an interview with the Browns' Nathan Zegura (0:40 mark). "You know, you spend so much time with these guys. A football team, you naturally make brothers. They're not friends, they're not acquaintances, those are your brothers. Those are people you genuinely care about."

"It hurt a lot, it stung a lot," he added. "You don't get the luxury to be upset about the feelings. I gotta get on that plane, I gotta come out here, I gotta meet my new teammates and get to know everybody. But I sat down with myself for awhile and I was like, 'I can't be mad at myself or at God because I asked for flowers and he gave me rain.' I was like, 'It's gonna be a good time. I'm ready to turn this around.'"

The Browns surprisingly sent star defensive end Myles Garrett to the Rams in exchange for Verse, a 2027 first-round draft pick, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 third-round selection.

Los Angeles understandably paid a steep price for Garrett, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year who is coming off a 2025 campaign in which he set the NFL's new single-season record of 23 sacks.

The Rams had to give up Verse in the swap, as he developed into a key piece of their defensive front throughout his first two years with the team.

He earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors for the 2024 season before amassing 58 tackles, 27 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last year.

Verse will be going from a Rams squad that advanced to the NFC Championship Game during their 2025 season to a Browns team looking to climb up the AFC North standings following a 5-12 finish.