For the first time since 2016, the Los Angeles Rams owned a first-round pick in the NFL Draft at 19th overall, and they decided to select Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse.
Defensive line was an obvious need for the Rams as they struggled to get a pass rush last season. While Kobie Turner and Byron Young are quality pieces, the retirement of Aaron Donald leaves an obvious void up front for L.A. on defense.
Verse was projected to go in the top 15 so the Rams are getting solid value by taking him with the 19th pick.
✨Now entering the Rams-Verse.✨
Welcome to #RamsHouse, @JaredVerse1! pic.twitter.com/lMH8aapWYA
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) April 26, 2024
In two seasons at Florida State, Verse had 89 total tackles, 18 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss. He played in 13 games in 2023 and had 41 tackles, 9.0 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Before that, he started his college career at the FCS level with Albany for a couple years.
He is someone that can come in and hopefully start right away for the Rams, who have championship aspirations in 2024 coming off an unexpected season where they made the playoffs.
The Rams’ defense is a young group, but new defensive coordinator Chris Shula has a lot of talent to work with, particularly up front.
L.A. now has 10 other picks in the rest of the 2024 NFL Draft and now that they have addressed their biggest need at edge rusher, they can shift their focus elsewhere on days two and three.
Rams flirted with trading up into top 10
Earlier in the day, reports surfaced that the Rams were looking to trade up from 19 into the top 10 with a certain player in mind, with many believing it to be Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze.
Ultimately though, the Chicago Bears ended up drafting Odunze at No. 9 overall and it appears that the trade prices were too rich for the Rams to move up. There weren’t any trades until pick 10 as most teams stood pat and drafted the offensive player of their choosing, so L.A. decided to stand pat as well.
