Browns Sign Young Pass Rusher With Ties to Jared Verse
The Cleveland Browns are adding some much-needed depth to their defensive line by signing young edge rusher Jamil Muhammad ahead of the second week of the preseason.
After hosting several veteran free-agent pass rushers for visits, Cleveland opted to bring in Muhammad, a player who already has a connection with one of the team’s newest defensive stars, Jared Verse.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the Browns have agreed to sign Muhammad after working him out last week. Muhammad originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of USC with the Los Angeles Rams in 2024, giving him previous experience alongside Verse.
Muhammad has yet to appear in a regular-season NFL game. His only professional action has come during training camp and preseason after signing with the Rams as an undrafted rookie. Cleveland’s decision to work him out last week ultimately led to a contract this week.
The most intriguing aspect of the signing is Muhammad’s familiarity with Verse. The two were teammates as rookies with the Rams during the 2024 season, although their careers took different paths. Verse has since become a major part of Cleveland’s plans after joining the Browns in the blockbuster trade involving Myles Garrett.
Browns Continue Addressing Defensive-Line Depth
The Browns are well aware that they need more depth along the defensive line. Following a major offseason overhaul, Cleveland has entered the preseason with a mix of injuries and inexperienced players, creating some uncertainty behind its projected starters.
Muhammad doesn’t bring much NFL experience himself, but his previous relationship with Verse could be valuable. Having a familiar teammate around one of the defense’s new leaders could help Muhammad adjust to Cleveland’s system and potentially develop chemistry with Verse.
The young edge rusher also brings athleticism, speed and power to a position group that could use additional options. His limited experience makes his eventual role difficult to predict, but with two preseason games remaining, there should be opportunities for him to make an impression.
Muhammad could receive meaningful snaps this weekend when Cleveland hosts Buffalo for joint practices before the teams meet in a preseason game Saturday. Whether he works with the first-team defense or the backups, live reps will be important as he gets acclimated to his new surroundings.
At the top of Cleveland’s edge-rusher depth chart, Jared Verse and Alex Wright appear to have established themselves as the likely starters. However, there isn’t much proven experience behind them aside from veteran Julian Okwara.
If Muhammad can quickly learn the defensive scheme, he could develop into a rotational option and provide valuable snaps in specific situations. For now, the Browns are simply adding another young player to a position group that clearly needed reinforcements.
Cleveland might have benefited from signing a proven veteran pass rusher, but Muhammad represents a low-risk addition with some intriguing upside. If he can build on his previous connection with Verse and translate his athletic ability to the NFL level, he could emerge as a useful contributor during the upcoming season.
Leave a Reply