How Jared Verse Made Quick Impact In Rookie Debut

A month and a half before the 2024 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams found out that Aaron Donald would be retiring from professional football. There’s no way to replicate the hole his loss creates, but with the early returns on Kobie Turner and Byron Young looking promising, it was time to add to the trenches. 

With their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Rams brought in someone who exemplifies the type of player the Rams want; a hard-working, physical playmaker with an endless motor. Jared Verse became the 19th pick of the draft and joined a talented, youthful defense in L.A. 

While he wasn’t a part of the team that lost to the Detroit Lions in the postseason last year, Verse was counted on to help avenge that loss in the opening week on Sunday Night Football. The stage doesn’t get much bigger than that to open your rookie campaign against one of the best (if not the best) offensive lines in football. Lining up across from the Byron Young and Penei Sewell matchup, Verse worked against Taylor Decker for most of his pass rush snaps and didn’t disappoint.

Verse racked up six total pressures and a 26.1% pressure rate to go along with his first career NFL sack in his debut. As the game went into the second half, Verse played far more snaps and it looked less like a rotation and more like Verse only came off the field if he needed a breather. The effort and power are tantalizing but he pairs them beautifully with athleticism, football IQ, and a pass-rush plan. 

The Lions motion Sam LaPorta from right to left and it alters the rush path for Verse up the arc to a narrow lane. On the snap, Verse shimmies his way into the C gap, showcasing inside intention with his feet, and uses his arms to keep Decker away from recovering up the arc. As he works up the arc, he swipes Decker’s hands away and throws his hands underneath to clear Decker and close on Jared Goff for the sack. If he continues working that motor and pass rush tool bag, good things will happen for Verse and the Rams' defense. 

The Rams’ defensive line incorporated a good amount of stunts into their pass-rush game—watch Turner win the B gap so quickly that he caught three offensive linemen. The center takes notice and adjusts to back up the guard and Verse sees the lane so clear. He extends and pushes Decker into Turner’s path and loops around leaving all three linemen and bursts his way toward Goff who just gets the ball away to avoid the sack.

These defensive linemen in L.A. work together well and play off each other with great timing in the stunt game. Verse’s toolbox is deep, and while he’s still growing as a complete player in the run game, his quickness is an asset he’ll lean on. 

Verse worked against Lions tight end Sam LaPorta a few times and most of the time ended up on top. He quickly identifies the run or run fake away, then jumps into the C gap and keeps working his way to Goff, nearly getting another sack. On the first play of the game, Verse sizes up LaPorta and then uses his fast hands to swim around him to make the play on the running back for minimal gain. His football IQ and play recognition allow him to play faster than blockers expect. 

It seems like Verse isn’t done adding to his repertoire either, showcasing this fake chop-to-bull rush move against Decker, earning him another pressure. He disguises this speed-to-power bull rush perfectly. He’s been able to win consistently up the arc against Decker on the majority of his pass rush wins and he attacks with speed first. Verse goes up with his arm and then leans into Decker, surprising him, and forces this ball out quickly from Goff. 

Verse was impressive in his first NFL regular season action and brings tons of excitement about the development happening across the defense in L.A. The youth movement is in full force and it looks promising after Week 1. Chris Shula has done a fantastic job getting his guys to buy in, and if Verse continues to play at this high a level and get better throughout the season, people will start to wonder how he fell to No. 19 in the 2024 NFL Draft.