The Los Angeles Rams’ top edge rusher, Jared Verse, is one of the best at his position but can he get even better?
The former No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 draft is one of the Rams’ best pass rushers since future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald retired in 2024.
“The way he plays the game, from the first snap to the last snap of the game, he wears people down… Those are the types of people we want to be Rams” head coach Sean McVay said on Verse after he was drafted.
Verse’s Skill and Talent
Verse only had seven and a half sacks last season but he was second in quarterback pressures with 100. His strength lies in his ability to speed up a quarterback’s processing time. He is a tremendous talent with a high level of skill.
“I’ll be completely honest with you… Jared might be the strongest, most powerful dude I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes,” a defensive line coach and trainer Ed McGilvra said. “I don’t think it’s comparable. He’s really one of one. I mean, he’s almost got the power of a three technique, but he’s got the speed and get-off and size of a defensive end.”
Standing at 6-foot-4, 254 pounds, he played the same way at Florida State University, where he recorded two nine-sack seasons. Verse has yet to record a double-digit sack season, but this could be the year he reaches that achievement. The Rams were excited to draft him and add him to the roster.
“He’s got a lot of versatility. You watch the way that he plays. He’s got great hands, he’s violent, and he’s got a versatile arsenal of moves that he can activate. But he plays the game the way we want it to be played,” McVay said after drafting Verse. “We’re looking for grown men on defense. … He was one of the guys that we had targeted and felt really good coming away with him. He’s going to make a big impact in the outside linebacker room.”
Verse’s Next Steps
The Rams have the 13th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, and if they select a defensive player, it could place more pressure on Verse. Ranked 11th in sacks, the Rams could use a dominant pass rusher. Last season, Byron Young led the team with 12 sacks, but Verse has the potential to be the leader this upcoming season.
Verse’s next step involves improving his ability to finish plays. Verse is elite in generating pressures but the great pass rushers record sacks. Verse is no stranger to the challenge. He said he left 10 sacks on the field during his rookie season, when he finished with 6.5 sacks.
The Rams’ Potential
The Rams’ ceiling is winning the Super Bowl, but they must be elite in all phases of the game including sacking the quarterback. The Rams have already fixed their biggest weakness – the cornerback room. Adding Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson makes them a top defense.
The Rams’ defensive coordinator Chris Shula is one of the best at unlocking Verse’s skill and talent. Already motivated to be the best, Verse can still benefit from Shula’s experience. Shula, who was interviewed for head coaching positions this offseason, is committed to always getting the best out of Verse.
“That’s what we’ve tried to hit on with him, trying some different stuff to continue to get his arsenal better,” Chris Shula said after the 2024 season.
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