Sports

Myles Garrett Trade Fuels Dillon Gabriel Rumors After Jared Verse’s Arrival In Cleveland

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iStockphoto / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect


The Cleveland Browns have traded away star pass rusher Myles Garrett. In return, they received draft capital and former Rams edge defender Jared Verse.

Verse made his practice debut in Ohio on Wednesday. His presence immediately ignited discussion surrounding the future of quarterback Dillon Gabriel.

Both players donned No. 8 jerseys during OTAs. It could be nothing. It could be a sign of what’s to come.

Jared Verse is a Cleveland Brown.

The former first-round pick out of Florida State is entering Year 3 in the NFL. Both of his previous seasons were spent in Los Angeles.

Verse will miss California. He admitted to being both shocked and upset about being traded for Myles Garrett.

Despite the disappointment, he expressed excitement to get started in Cleveland. He made his debut this week and liked what he saw on the defensive side of the football.

Verse knows the Browns can be a winning team.

Verse looks to help boost that unit, which ranked 14th in the league last year at 22.3 points allowed per game. He’ll bring proven production with him from the West Coast.

Verse is already a 2x Pro Bowler and Defensive Rookie of the Year. He’s amassed 12 sacks and 124 tackles across two seasons.

The linebacker does not intend to fill Myles Garrett’s shoes. He wants to be Jared Verse. He does not plan to change a thing with the move. That includes his jersey number.

Cleveland has two No. 8’s.

One, of course, if Verse. He wore the same number with the Rams where he was aptly dubbed “V8.”

The other is Dillon Gabriel, a third-round passer fresh off his rookie year. NFL jersey rules do not allow for two players to wear the same number, even if they play on opposite sides of the ball. Something has to give.

There is an easy solution. Verse could ask for (or buy) the jersey number from Gabriel. It’s a very common occurrence. Verse could also switch his own number if Gabriel remains firm.

Then, there’s a third option. Gabriel is let go by the team. A narrative currently surrounds the passer’s future. Will he be traded? Will he be cut? Both options are reportedly on the table.

Gabriel is the third or fourth option in the QB room. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson are battling for the starting role.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report suggested that the second-year quarterback will be traded this offseason. That insinuation was supported by Cleveland’s decision to draft another quarterback in Taylen Green this past April.

NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah hinted that Green’s athleticism could give him the nod over Gabriel in the quarterback room.

If a deal is not struck, Gabriel could be cut. His release would open the door for Verse to take No. 8 without issue.

Jared Verse does not appear eager to drop the jersey number. We’ll soon see if he’s forced to negotiate or if the obstacle is removed from his path.