In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams went with a defensive player with their first selection. The Rams went with EDGE rusher Jared Verse at the 19th overall selection, with the pass rusher showing that he was the right choice.
Verse recorded 66 tackles, 2 sacks and 77 pressures in his rookie season in LA. In his first postseason run, the former Florida State Seminole logged 6 tackles and 2 tackles.
The 2024 draft pick won the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, the first time a Rams defender won the award since Aaron Donald in the 2014 season when the team was still in St. Louis.
Before the start of the 2025 season, Verse said on the Rich Eisen Show that he doesn’t have any expectations for himself heading into year two, outside of getting more sacks due to missed opportunities.
Now 13 weeks into the new season, Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula spoke to the media about the development of the second-year player.
Defensive Coordinator On Jared Verse’s Development
GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams
Jared Verse has surpassed his rookie sack numbers through 12 games of the 2025 season, taking down opposing quarterbacks 6 times. The defender also has 43 tackles and 57 pressures so far on the season.
Verse is slowly but surely improving his game in his second season in the NFL. The Rams DC spoke about the players’ development cycle and what he expects next for Verse to take the next step.
“It’s really just continuing to grow and build on what he does,” the DC said. “Just consistency. Doing it every single play. Play in and play out.”
“He does it a lot and then it’s just continuing to harp on him, stay on him… He’s been practicing at a really high level and you’re seeing that transition into the games.”
The Rams defender currently has an 82 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which is the 16th highest out of 112 qualifying EDGE rushers this season.
A Leader On Defense
GettyLos Angeles Rams pass rusher Jared Verse
The Rams had one of the older defenses at the beginning of the 2025 season, with the average age being 26.38 yards old.
Yet, it is the younger players that are making holding it down for the D, with Chris Shula mentioning that Verse plays for the defense and not for himself.
“It’s play in, play out. He’s made a conscious effort to be running to the ball and doing his job within the scheme of the defense, playing hard and leading by example by how hard he plays,” Shula said.
“He knows he one of our best players, and he knows guys are looking to him with how hard he plays and how tough and physical he is. He’s not one of those guys that’s just looking every single play to go get a sack. He wants to do the best for the defense. The most part he wants to play good defense and get a win, and however you contribute to help doing that, he wants to do it.”
Verse played his best football in his first playoff appearance. The Rams will more than likely return to the postseason and the chances of seeing the EDGE rusher at his best.
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