Get ready to be dazzled by 5 2024 Rams rookies as they fight for larger roles

(2) - OLB Jared Verse

It seems ludicrous to suggest that the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse, can make an even bigger impact for the Rams in 2025. But that is where we find ourselves. Verse was a wrecking ball on the defensive front last season. But he was a rookie, too. And rookies have to learn via trial and error.

That is exactly how Verse learned in 2024, through many trials and many errors.

I don't need to tout Verse's incredible achievements from 2024. I'll save those for later. But to ensure that we understand where Verse can improve, we have to point out some areas that he will surely address in the offseason.

For starters, Verse was incredibly aggressive. It was his speed-to-power ratio that made him one of the most dangerous edge rushers in the NFL. But he did tend to fixate on his blocker a bit last season. Despite making 66 tackles, he missed 17 tackles last season, resulting in a 20.5 missed tackle rate. Missed tackles are horrific to a young defense. So that is certainly something that Jared Verse has to fix in 2025.

But another area that must improve is converting pressures into sacks. After 10 weeks, Jared Verse had 4.5 quarterback sacks.

The thing is, he failed to sack the quarterback over the last eight games of the NFL season. Was that a change of defensive strategy? Or did opposing offenses finally learn how to neutralize Verse? Whatever the cause of his sudden drop in sacks, the Rams have countermeasures in the works.

The Rams hired new Coach Drew Wilkens to fill a defensive pass rush coordinator role. There is a lot to love about this hire, particularly against the backdrop of this defense building a fierce pass rush. Under Wilkens' tutelage, Verse will benefit the most. I can envision Jared Verse putting up 9.0+ quarterback sacks in 2025. Even that may be a conservative estimate

Verse was a huge impact player in 2024. But with improvements, he will be an even bigger impact player in 2025. He is no longer a rookie, so he won't be acclimating to the NFL in early games. This will be a fast start and a fast finish for the DROY. As such, he will be even more unstoppable this season.