For years, the Cleveland Browns remained dysfunctional from within. While their defense was one of the best in the league, their offense lagged severely. Now, a former star player believes that head coach Todd Monken is responsible for how both units perform this season.

“It's the defense. [Todd Monken] lost the greatest defensive player in the history of football when Myles Garrett was traded. You got a new defensive coordinator, a lot of young, talented players,” Joe Thomas said of the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year.

Thomas, the Browns’ remarkable offensive tackle, made this point in a recent interview with 92.3 The Fan on June 30. Myles Garrett is coming off a legendary run.

He set the new record for most sacks by a player in a season. He recorded 23 sacks in 2025. Out of 412 total career tackles, Garrett clenched 293 solo.

The ten-time Pro Bowler opined that Monken’s biggest challenge this season is to deal with Garrett's exit.

“The defense, because they were so good the last several years, the expectations are higher. There's gonna be a challenge to meet expectations of seasons past on defense,” he said on the Ken Carmen Show with Anthony Lima. 

The new head coach has taken over the Browns at a tipping point. His predecessor, Kevin Stefanski, led the team to two playoff appearances but failed to improve the offense, which was marred by quarterback instability. 

The Browns went 4-13 in 2024 and 5-12 last season, solely because of poor offense. In stark contrast, Garrett, now with the Los Angeles Rams, led the defense with an iron fist, and last season was an exceptional one for him. 

The Browns’ secondary ranked fourth in overall defense with 283.6 yards per game. They ranked third in passing defense with 167.2 yards per game. 

The Browns ranked first overall in pass rush, ahead of the Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.

And yet, they were a bottom-feeding team solely because of their offense. Garrett had been dealing with this imbalance for years. 

Now, Monken has to build a sound defense with new defensive end Jared Verse, who has earned high praise from a Browns expert. 

Mary Kay Cabot says Jared Verse’s value is beyond measure

The Browns received Jared Verse in exchange for Myles Garrett in their June 1 trade with the Rams. Cabot argued that with Garrett’s exit, defensive players can take up more space.

The 25-year-old has already made a strong impression on experts who believe he can take over Garrett’s role well.

“Jared Verse, same thing. He seems like a big, booming personality,” Cabot said on the Baski and Phelps segment of 92.3 The Fan. “I’ve called him a unifier, a connector, sort of force multiplier. I think he’s gonna bring the guys together.” 

Cabot then added how she saw camaraderie within the new defense in the minicamp. Can head coach Todd Monken fare well with Verse and Co. this season? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar