NFL expert cites this LA Rams perfect fit rookie as NFL DROY favorite for 2024

This is a brand new chapter in the saga of the LA Rams defense. Gone are former All-Pros who have competed for this team, like DT Aaron Donald, DB Jalen Ramsey, and ILB Bobby Wagner. So too this team has parted ways with DE Jonah Williams, DB Ahkello Witherspoon, and DB Jordan Fuller.

It's a new defense for a new defensive coordinator. But that does not mean starting over from the ground floor. Oh no. This is a defense that boasts two rookies who are both effective Round 1 values in outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive tackle Braden Fiske. And in a bit of breaking from tradition, both rookies are prepared to make some noise in their first season.

NFL draft analyst for NFL Media Lance Zierlein wrote an insightful article about the upcoming 2024 NFL season. While he did not rank rookie DT Branden Fiske's chances for 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, he did rank the chances of 10 rookies for 2024.

And LA Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse, out of Florida State University, got the nod for the top rookie likely to be honored with DROY for 2024. Here was what he had to say about Verse:

"Verse and the Rams feel like a match made in heaven. Despite lacking ideal size and length, Verse possesses tremendous power and explosiveness. He plays with rare leverage at the point of attack. While he needs to continue diversifying his rush attack, his burst, power and motor are ingredients that could help him stack sack numbers this year. Plus, his ability to defend the run will only help his DROY case."

- Lance Zierlein

Of course, we know that Houston Texans OLB Will Anderson Jr. was given 2023 DROY honors, despite putting up inferior statistics to NT Kobie Turner. But a comparison between Verse and Anderson's dimensions indicate that Verse is similarly sized to Anderson, bolstering his projection as the favorite for DROY honors.

But you know we are not content to nod along with preseason projections like a bobblehead doll.

But can he survive getting double teamed?

On of the litmus tests that any rookie defender must pass in the post-Aaron Donald retirement era is defeating the double team. So how does rookie OLB Jared Verse handle double-team blocking?

Very well, it seems.

We know that DT Kobie Turner has faced and can overcome double teams as well. With Verse likely to face a fair share of double teams, that should free up his teammate OLB Byron Young enough to apply pressure. But as Young chases the quarterback out of the pocket, the power rush of Jared Verse will hit paydirt over and over.

This may not be an All-Pro powered defense any longer. But this is a swarming defense that coagulates at the ball carrier like a swarm of hornets. And right now, the big stinger appears to be rookie OLB Jared Verse. Can he put up DROY numbers? Both Kobie Turner and Byron Young did so in 2023, to no avail.

So the way I'm scoring their chances, the NFL owes DROY honors to a Rams rookie in 2024. And OLB Jared Verse is certainly deserving.

Thanks for reading.