Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford remains a top-10 quarterback, the dynamic duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams form one of the league’s most feared receiving tandems, and Kyren Williams has proven himself a reliable, franchise-caliber running back. Yet none of them, at this moment, sits alone atop the NFL at their respective position.
That may be changing soon, especially on defense.
PFF Expects Jared Verse To Take A Big Leap For Los Angeles Rams
Pro Football Focus analyst Dalton Wasserman highlighted second-year edge rusher Jared Verse as a rising candidate for the league’s top edge defender following a standout rookie season.
“Reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse is poised to build on his outstanding 2024 season,” Wasserman wrote. “His 89 pressures, including the postseason, led the NFL. He was also one of just two qualified edge defenders — along with T.J. Watt — to earn at least an 80.0 grade in both run defense and pass rushing.”
Verse was the definition of disruptive last year. But even with those gaudy numbers, Wasserman pointed out the one clear flaw: a league-high 21 missed tackles. That blemish could be what separates a dominant pass rusher from the absolute elite in the league. Still, the upside is undeniable.
The road to being considered the top edge rusher in football, however, is steep.
Myles Garrett, T.J. Watt, Micah Parsons, Aidan Hutchinson, and Nick Bosa represent a deeply stacked class of pass rushers—all proven, all highly productive, and all playing on teams with postseason expectations. For Verse to climb above that tier, he’ll have to do more than repeat his 2024 stats. He’ll need to become more complete, particularly by reducing missed tackles, sustaining efficiency against better offensive lines, and impacting games when it matters most—late in the season and in the playoffs. Most of all he will need to finish his pass rush registering sacks, not just pressures. His 4.5 sacks ranked 100th among all pass rushers — a far cry from the leader, Trey Hendrickson, with 17.5
Verse also faces internal competition. With young, disruptive linemates like Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner vying for snaps and stats, Verse’s individual production may not always reflect his impact. The Rams’ defensive line is deep and diverse, which may limit his solo numbers but strengthen the unit as a whole.
Even with those challenges, Verse is already knocking on the door. His youth, motor, and efficiency place him on the cusp of joining the NFL’s most exclusive pass-rushing fraternity. With continued growth, better tackling, and another year of experience, Jared Verse may soon become not just elite—but the standard.
