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Jared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts against the San Francisco 49ers.
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2024, and it helped him land a spot among the top-10 edge rushers in the league, according to a poll from ESPN.
The poll compiled lists of 10 players from 70 front office personnel, coaches, and scouts, with interviews and other analysis, and ranked them.
Verse’s spot was somewhat controversial.
“It’s not that he’s not ascending into a premier rusher, but he’s not ahead of some of the others who are more productive or better run players right now,” an anonymous NFC exec told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, arguing against Verse being in the top 10, in comments published on July 9.
Fowler noted Verse was a “tough evaluation” due to a “lack of production,” with the former No. 19 overall pick of the 2024 draft tallying a “modest” 4.5 sacks and a 17.5% pass rush win rate for the Rams.
“He didn’t appear on many ballots as a result,” Fowler wrote. “Verse was credited with 24 incompletions and three interceptions created, both quality numbers. And his 23.3% double-team rate was fourth on this list behind greats [Micah] Parsons, [Myles] Garrett and [Maxx] Crosby.
“Competition at the deep NFL position is the only thing working to Verse’s disadvantage.”
Verse’s first season with the Rams was still enough to make a strong impression on his peers, which speaks to his making the list.
5-Time Pro Bowl OL Gives Rams OLB Jared Verse Strong Endorsement
GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before facing the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fowler noted that, despite his underwhelming sack production for the Rams, Verse still beat out two others – Brian Burns and Nik Bonitto – for the 10th and final spot on the list (his highest ranking was sixth).
Even league execs “were swift” in responding with Verse to break ties for spots on the list, which also included four “honorable mentions” and seven others who received votes.
Fowler pointed to an account from former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Terron Armstead.
“I’m very, very loud about what I believe he will be able to do. The boy is strong. It’s different. Different level of strength. It is. I don’t know exactly what it [is], because he’s not the biggest. He’s not the – I played James Harrison and Justin Smith, and very strong humans. Jared has something different with his power,” Armstead told Rich Eisen during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show” in June. “I saw it on film.”
“I’m excited to see. Like, I need to see what’s this power about. So, the first series, he did a bull rush. We passed the ball, I think we got a first down, and I’m laughing because it was like, Yo, that’s funny,’ that he pushed me back like that. ‘That was funny. So it was interesting to see. This is different I’ve seen it on film. So, the rest of the game, I’m trying to get on him quick. I don’t want to let him get started. But he has a pop that is just – is different. It’s hard to explain. You’ll see more of it this year.”
Armstead, who later said he was happy that he would avoid Verse now that he is retired, during an appearance on Sirius XM Radio, also said he could see Vere winning Defense Player of the Year and that he can still improve.
“He’s a man,” an anonymous NFC personnel executive said, per Fowler. “Very unique strength.”
Verse notably joined franchise legend Aaron Donald in winning the award, one of three Rams to take it home. Donald put Verse through a strenuous workout this offseason.
Jared Verse Has Work to Do to Deliver on Promise
GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on against the Seattle Seahawks.
Since the start of the 2010 season, eight edge defenders have won Defensive Rookie of the Year, including Verse, but not Donald, who won it with the Rams in 2014. Of that group, four players logged double-digit sacks as rookies.
Parsons did it last, in 2021, and it had been five years since the previous instance.
Still, not only were double-digit sack artists winning the award the norm, Verse’s 4.5 sacks are the fewest for a pass rusher who won DROY since sacks became an official stat in 1982.
He also has the third-fewest sacks of any rookie who also made the Pro Bowl in that same span. Of the four edge defenders to win Defensive Player of the Year since 2010, none had fewer than 11.0 sacks, with the average at more than 14.0 sacks per winner in a season.
Verse has work to do to become the Rams’ second player after Donald (three times) to win it.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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