Rams select Florida State DE Jared Verse with No. 19 pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Rams’ overdue re-entry into the first round saw them add a defender months after the retirement of Aaron Donald.

Los Angeles selected Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse with the 19th-overall pick Thursday night.

Verse is the first player selected by the Rams with a first-round pick since they chose quarterback Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 draft. Verse is also the first defensive player taken by the Rams in the first round since they chose Donald in 2014.

Verse, however, will not take over Donald’s role. Unlike Donald who excels at breaking through internal double teams, Verse thrives on the edge. He was a force to be reckoned with for the Seminoles, becoming a human wrecking ball and amassing 29 sacks in his last two seasons at Tallahassee.

The Florida State product, a jittery athlete, blends power and speed to gain an advantage on the edge. Verse’s lightning-fast first step gives him an upper hand against slower tackles, while his strength can overwhelm blockers. He also shows notable efficiency against the run, demonstrating the power to dominate blocks.

Verse’s journey is a tale of developmental success. He finished high school as a tight end and pass rusher, without a single star to his name as a recruit. He chose Albany for his further studies, concentrating on defense. Over three years, he played 15 games at Albany and showed enough potential to become a sought-after portal transfer in 2022. He picked FSU and his career took a leap forward.

Verse amassed 18 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 88 tackles, three passes defended, and one forced fumble during his two-year stint with the Seminoles. He was honoured as a first-team All-ACC twice and was named a first-team All-American in 2023.

Although he may not have produced the huge final collegiate season many predicted, his talent should be transferable to the professional level.

Verse, with his tireless engine, triumphs with a quick initial move and possesses the power to bulldoze through tackles on the edge. His productivity matches any edge rusher in the 2024 class and even at 24, he still has potential to improve. His blend of speed and power offers him an innate edge advantage, and his sufficient agility in confined spaces makes him a threat if he switches inside during passing downs.

Despite Verse potentially being an average bender with less length, his explosive power could make him an instant game-changer as a rookie. If his immediate contributions mirror those of 2014’s Defensive Rookie of the Year, Donald, then Rams supporters will be thrilled with this pick.