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The Browns’ pass rush has slipped from ringleader to question mark early in the season, and the timing could not be worse: their Week 3 home game against Bryce Young’s Panthers looms and the unit that terrorized quarterbacks in 2025 has yet to show the same bite. Persistent struggles generating pressure, growing penalty issues, and an unproven replacement for Myles Garrett are already reshaping expectations in Cleveland.
Numbers that explain the concern
Through two weeks, Cleveland’s defensive metrics paint a starker picture than last season’s elite performance. Opponents are completing drives more often, and the sacks and pressures that defined the Browns’ identity are down markedly.
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- Pressure rate: 27th in the league — a steep fall from a top-5 finish last year
- Sack rate: 20th — fewer quarterback takedowns are limiting momentum-changing plays
- Opponent success rate: 48.7% — fourth-worst in the NFL so far
- Penalties: 25th in total penalties — costly infractions that prolong opponent drives
Who is supposed to replace Garrett?
The offseason trade that sent Myles Garrett away left a heavy expectation: Jared Verse was envisioned as the primary edge presence. So far, Verse has produced one recorded pressure through two games and a middling PFF grade that places him well outside the top tier of qualifying edge defenders.
Part of the problem looks schematic. Verse spent his early NFL snaps as a stand-up edge in schemes that emphasized speed and spacing. Cleveland’s staff has shifted him into a more traditional, hand-in-the-dirt role within a 4-3 front under coach Mike Rutenberg. That transition often takes time.
Verse is only 25. There’s room for growth, and the Browns are unlikely to make a definitive judgment this early. But if he never reaches first-round-caliber production, the cost of the Garrett trade — a package that included Verse, a first-round pick and other draft capital — will become a major storyline this season.
Coaching, scheme and situational factors
Last year’s defensive success owed a lot to disciplined game plans and in-game adjustments. Jim Schwartz’s unit excelled at generating pressure without gambling, and that structure isn’t fully intact yet.
There are schematic questions and execution issues. Penalties on both sides of the ball are compounding problems: offensive infractions stall drives and force the defense into tougher down-and-distance situations; defensive mistakes erase stops or keep opponents moving.
Special-game context matters too. In Week 2 the Browns faced a Buccaneers offense that struggled to stretch the field without Mike Evans, which blunted opportunities for splash plays and may have masked some schematic shortfalls. Even so, Cleveland missed several chances to create pressure and take over the game.
Short-term fixes and what likely takes longer
Some solutions are immediate. Cleaner tackling, fewer false starts and more disciplined rush lanes can reduce the opponent success rate quickly. Coaching can emphasize third-down pressure packages and stunt work over the next two weeks to generate more disruption.
Other elements — like fully converting Verse into a dominant edge in Rutenberg’s front — are developmental. That requires reps, film study, and possibly tactical tweaks to put him in positions where his strengths translate.
- Immediate: Reduce penalties, simplify gap responsibilities, and rotate pass rushers to keep fresh legs on the edge.
- Medium term: Tailor Verse’s role more toward his skill set while integrating complementary rushers to mask growing pains.
- Longer term: Assess personnel after a meaningful sample size; the Garrett trade’s value will hinge on Verse and the draft assets materializing into contributors.
What to watch in Week 3
Against Bryce Young and the Panthers, the Browns will be tested in ways that reveal whether recent struggles are temporary. Can they pressure Young with planned rushes rather than relying on chance? Will penalty discipline improve enough to avoid self-inflicted damage?
Key indicators to monitor:
- Quarterback pressures and hurry-to-sack ratio — not just sacks but consistent disruption
- Penalties per game on both sides of the ball
- Jared Verse’s snap usage and pass-rush production in designed edge roles
The defense that dominated in 2025 still has the roster pieces to be a top unit, but time is limited. If pressure remains scarce and penalties persist, Cleveland could struggle to control games against mobile, accurate young quarterbacks like Young. A rebound in Weeks 3 and 4 would go a long way toward restoring confidence; a continued slide would force harder decisions before the season’s midpoint.
