Jared Verse is a professional NFL edge rusher for the Los Angeles Rams, selected 19th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Florida State University. After transferring from Albany, Verse earned unanimous All-American honors in 2023 and immediately translated that production to the pro level, recording 8.5 sacks in his rookie season and establishing himself as one of the league's most disruptive young pass rushers.
Who Is Jared Verse? Early Life and College Career
Born on October 5, 2001, in Averill Park, New York, Jared Verse played his first two college seasons at Albany (FCS level) before transferring to Florida State in 2022. The move proved transformative. At FSU under defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, Verse posted 11.5 sacks in 2023 alongside 17 tackles for loss, earning him the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award and a consensus All-American designation. His combination of bend, burst off the line, and a developed counter move arsenal made him one of the most coveted prospects in the 2024 class. NFL scouts noted his 4.52-second 40-yard dash at 254 pounds — elite athleticism for an edge defender — as confirmation that his college dominance was built on genuine physical gifts, not competition level.
How Did Verse Perform in His NFL Rookie Season?
Verse joined a Rams defensive line that already featured Aaron Donald's successor-level talent and was immediately given a starting role opposite Leonard Floyd and Kobie Turner. In 2024, he finished with 8.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 42 total pressures across 17 games, placing him among the top rookie edge rushers in the NFL by pressure rate. His bull-rush power and speed-to-power conversion drew consistent double-teams by mid-season, freeing teammates for additional opportunities. He was named to several All-Rookie team selections and received Defensive Rookie of the Year votes, finishing as a finalist for the award. Head coach Sean McVay publicly praised Verse's football IQ and described him as a player who 'impacts the game on every single snap.'
| Season | Team | Games | Sacks | TFL | FF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 (FSU) | Florida State | 12 | 5.5 | 8 | 2 |
| 2023 (FSU) | Florida State | 13 | 11.5 | 17 | 3 |
| 2024 (NFL) | LA Rams | 17 | 8.5 | 14 | 2 |
Why Are the Rams and NFL Analysts So High on Verse's Future?
At just 23 years old entering the 2025 season, Verse is widely projected to develop into a perennial Pro Bowl-caliber pass rusher. Analytics platforms such as Pro Football Focus graded him as one of the top five rookie edge defenders of the 2024 class by pass-rush win rate. The Rams locked in their long-term defensive identity around him alongside 2023 first-round pick Kobie Turner, creating a formidable young core. Contract extension talks are expected to begin as early as 2026, and several national analysts have compared his trajectory to Myles Garrett's early career arc — a first-round edge rusher who posted elite numbers from day one and never looked back. With Aaron Donald retired, Verse is quickly becoming the face of the Rams' defense.
