The Los Angeles Rams have some work to do to shore up their defense this offseason. Their secondary was exposed in the latter half of the season and the playoffs, despite the team once again being a play or two away from taking down the eventual Super Bowl champs. One part of the defense that is shored up, though, is Jared Verse’s place on the defensive line.
The Rams struck gold when they selected Verse with the 19th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of his first two seasons and was the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year last season. He had big shoes to fill replacing Aaron Donald on the line, but has held his own about as well as anyone could have expected.
Verse has also developed a strong relationship with Donald in the two years as a member of the Rams. The two have worked out together on many occasions, and the Rams legend has been highly complimentary of what Verse brings to the table. And it seems more and more like Verse is trying to replicate what made Donald one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history:
Jared Verse modified his training regiment to mimic Aaron Donald’s regiment. Cant dispute those results… i hope Verse continues to ascend. #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/n4eFy8j2qa
— Allen Sales (@AllenSales) February 20, 2026
Verse is an immensely talented player who was almost instantly beloved by the Rams faithful. Part of the reason for that was his reverence for Donald right out of the gates. Verse is unapologetic in his belief in himself, but also knows how to credit the greats that came before him, and Donald is certainly the most direct example of that.
Donald continues to have an impact on the young Rams star, who will hopefully have big things coming his way in 2026, as he takes another leap towards superstardom on the Rams defensive line.
Warren McClendon Jr. ‘earned’ Rams starting tackle job
On the other Rams’ line, they are dealing with the retirement of long-time starting right tackle Rob Havenstein. He called it a career after 11 seasons in the NFL, leaving the Rams with a massive hole on the right side of the line. However, Warren McClendon Jr., the Rams fifth-round pick from 2023, performed admirably in his place in 2025.
He started 10 games while Havenstein was out with injury, and it’s because of that that head coach Sean McVay believes he’s earned the right to be the starter.
