Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, the league announced.
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Verse’s quarterback pressures garnered his first professional accolade. Through the first four games of the season, Verse ranks 16th among all NFL defenders in pressures with a total of 17. The edge rusher has more than any other rookie in the league.
Through his first four games, Verse has tallied 19 total tackles and one sack. The rookie leads his team in quarterback hits with four total. His tackles are fifth-most among all Rams defensive players.
In Week 4, Verse earned a 50 percent pass rush win rate versus the Chicago Bears, the highest mark in a single game this season.
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His pass rush win rate is tied with New York Giants nose tackle Dexter Lawrence.
The former first-round pick has performed well for the Rams thus far. He was the No. 19 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft and was the first pick for Los Angeles.
The Rams invested their first two draft picks in defensive players. Verse and teammate Braden Fiske were two draft picks the Rams hoped would help transform a Rams defense short its star, Aaron Donald.
After Aaron Donald announced his retirement following the 2023 season, the Rams were tasked with revamping the defense.
Verse proved to be a stellar draft pick. The edge rusher has arguably been the best rookie at his position this season.
“They [Verse and Fiske] have been disruptive and causing havoc and that’s always a good thing in the backfield, and now we just need to stress finishing plays and putting yourself in those positions in practice,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said via the team transcript. “And that’s the hardest thing is that in practice you get in some of those positions and you assume that they make the play and that’s a thing we’re learning as coaches and as players is you need to keep stressing the finishing aspect of it every single play.”
Verse is a solid run defender and once he converts more sack opportunities, he’ll be a huge problem for any NFL offense.
Once he is able to consistently finish plays, he’ll become one of the best defensive players in the league.
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The rookie is tied for fifth in tackles for loss with a total of five, according to Tru Media. He is also tied for ninth in quarterback hurries with 12.
Furthermore, Verse has the sixth-highest pressure rate in the league at 18 percent, per Next Gen Stats.
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