The NFL is always looking for its next breakout star, and in 2024, Jared Verse proved he’s not just a rising talent—he’s already arrived. Just one season into his professional career, Verse has been named among the top 50 best NFL players by Pro Football Focus (PFF), earning the No. 47 spot on their highly anticipated annual list. That puts him ahead of established stars like quarterback Jalen Hurts and wide receiver Mike Evans, a remarkable feat for a player who was still in college just over a year ago.
Verse, the Los Angeles Rams’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was a dominant force off the edge in his debut season. His rookie campaign culminated in a well-deserved Defensive Rookie of the Year award, thanks to his relentless pressure, physical dominance, and high motor on every snap. Now, entering his second season, Verse is no longer a secret weapon—he’s a player the entire league is keeping tabs on.
According to PFF, Verse recorded 81 total pressures in 2024, ranking second in the entire league behind only veteran pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson. That level of disruption is nearly unheard of for a rookie edge defender and speaks to both his elite talent and the immediate impact he made on a Rams defense in transition. His PFF grades reflected his all-around excellence, scoring above 80.0 in both pass rushing and run defense categories—numbers typically reserved for All-Pro veterans.
Despite the impressive pressure totals, one area where Verse still has room to grow is in finishing plays. He ended the season with just 4.5 sacks, a relatively modest total considering how often he collapsed the pocket. A high missed-tackle rate (nearly 30% in pass-rush situations) limited his ability to convert pressures into sacks. However, that’s less a red flag and more an opportunity for refinement. As many edge rushers have shown in the past, improving technique and awareness can lead to significantly higher sack totals in subsequent years.
What makes Verse’s success even more promising is the context of his supporting cast. The Rams have assembled a promising young defensive core that includes fellow defensive linemen Byron Young, Kobie Turner, and 2024 draft pick Braden Fiske. With this group growing and developing together, Verse won’t face the burden of carrying the pass rush alone. Instead, opposing offenses will have to account for multiple threats along the line, potentially freeing up more one-on-one opportunities for Verse to exploit.
Being named to PFF’s Top 50 list so early in his career is a testament to Verse’s rapid ascent. The list is not based solely on reputation or past accolades—it’s a forward-looking ranking based on actual performance and projected impact. For Verse to earn that recognition after just one year signals that analysts and scouts alike view him as one of the league’s elite talents already.
The challenge now is consistency and growth. The NFL is notorious for second-year slumps, especially as opposing coordinators get more film and tailor their game plans. Verse will need to adapt, evolve, and find ways to finish the plays he was so close to completing last season.
Still, all signs point to an exciting future. If Year 1 was just the beginning, Jared Verse could soon find himself not just among the top 50, but pushing for a spot in the top 20—or even higher. For Rams fans, the emergence of a potential cornerstone defensive player offers hope for a return to postseason contention. For the rest of the league, Jared Verse has officially put them on notice: he’s not just here—he’s here to dominate.