​After a tretruous 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns, under newly-hired head coach Todd Monken, will look to flip the script this season.This offseason, the Browns made the shocking decision to trade star defensive end Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. The blockbuster trade now presents a difficult task for Cleveland’s newest defensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg, who will now have to find a way to replace Garrett within the front four.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIn a recent article regarding the newest defensive coordinators in the NFL and their scheme impact, the Athletic’s Mike Jones stated that Rutenberg must find a way for Jared Verse to fill the void left by Garrett.”Gone is Myles Garrett, and in his place is Jared Verse, a 25-year-old former Rams pass rusher who came over in that trade with Los Angeles,” Jones wrote. “Verse does a good job of generating pressure on quarterbacks, but the Browns will need more from others, including young edge rushers Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire and linebacker Carson Schwesinger.”Browns defensive end Jared Verse joins his new teammates during an OTA, June 2, 2026, in Berea.Verse, a former first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has been nothing short of impressive throughout his first two seasons in the NFL. As a rookie, the Florida State standout recorded 66 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles, which was enough for him to land the 2024 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile Verse showed promise during his first season with the Rams, the powerful defensive end took a massive step forward in his development during the 2025 season, finishing with 58 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. His steady progress from 2024 to 2025 played a key role in general manager Andrew Berry’s decision to move on from Garrett this offseason, as the Rams were willing to include Verse in the deal.Now, with Verse set to take over as the Browns’ top EDGE rusher, the defensive line’s success in 2026 will lie in the hands of the 25-year-old. In his first two seasons, the talented defender recorded 99 quarterback pressures, which ranked third across the NFL. Verse’s ability to collapse the pocket consistently should create more opportunities for his fellow defensive ends, Alex Wright and Isaiah McGuire, which is similar to Garrett’s presence on defense last season.This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: NFL analyst reveals Browns Mike Rutenberg’s biggest challenge in 2026