Rams disciplined in selecting Jared Verse at 19: Instant grade and analysis

The LA Rams were wide open in terms of what they might do in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft. In two successive final mock drafts, one from NFL insider Peter Schrager, the Rams were expected to trade out of Round 1 entirely. Conversely, NFL Rumors heated up, indicating that the team was working the phones to find a viable path to land among the Top-10 picks of the draft.

The first 14 picks of the 2024 NFL Draft named offensive players. That is an incredible streak. Unfortunately the Rams lost one of their top defensive targets when the Indianapolis Colts selected UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu. He was one of the defensive players in this draft who many hoped might fall to the Rams at the 19th overall pick.

The Rams may have had interest in upgrading the offense, but after 14 picks that all fell on offensive players, the belief began to build that the Rams would be aiming for a defensive prospect at 19. Unforutnately, the Rams sat and watched the following picks take place at 15 through 18:

• 15th overall - UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu - Indianapolis Colts
• 16th overall - Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II - Seattle Seahawks
• 17th overall - Traded by Jaguars to Vikings - Alabama edge rusher Dallas Tur ner
• 18th overall - Georgia offensive tackle Amerius Mims - Cincinnati Bengals

Which leads us to the LA Rams pick at the 19th overall pick

With the 19th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, the LA Rams select Jared Verse, outside linebacker, out of Florida State. We had mocked Jared Verse to the Rams in one of our Rams Mock Drafts, and for good reason. The team was concerned about the lack of pass rush in 2023, and Verse is a huge step in the direction of improving that for 2024.

As we had stated in that mock draft,  Verse put up 9.0 quarterback sacks, at least 12.5 tackles for a loss, and at least 41 tackles in both 2022 and 2023. At 6-foot-4 and 254 pounds, he is an almost instant starter for the LA Rams at outside linebacker.

Because the Rams showed extreme discipline in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft and ended up with one of the best pass rushers in the rookie class of 2024, I am very satisfied with the team so far. Even as the Rams have more work to do, the first step is often the most difficult.

The team improved significantly with this first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. And there are 10 more picks to go.

Grade: A