The Los Angeles Rams attempted to remake their defensive line following Aaron Donald’s retirement by selecting Jared Verse in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Verse enjoyed a stellar debut season and went on to win the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He led all first-year players in quarterback hits (18), pressures (77) and hurries (56), and had the second-most tackles for loss (11) and fifth-most sacks (4.5).
As Verse prepares for his second season in the NFL, he poked fun at former Rams great Aaron Donald by inviting him for a workout.
It didn’t take long for Donald to respond with a challenge for Verse, which the Rams star accepted:
After Jared Verse challenged Aaron Donald to work out with him (“he’s not ready for that”), Donald responds by inviting him over to his home to put him through “the old man retirement workout.”
😂💀
(Via AD’s IG story) pic.twitter.com/J7gfV9lFol
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) June 4, 2025
Verse: “Just give me a date and time, and I’m there,” and he ups the ante to having Donald do a “young man workout” at the facility if Verse gets through the old man workout
🍿 https://t.co/i2iUFMIyP4 pic.twitter.com/KngeFAJstV
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) June 4, 2025
Donald spent 10 seasons with the Rams and established himself as one of the best defensive players of his generation.
Verse, who has many parallels to Donald, made it clear that he also wants to be great after being recognized for an outstanding rookie season.
Although he is now retired and has no desire to return to the football field, Donald still keeps tabs with the Rams and Verse in particular.
It’s only fitting that the two plan to work out with each other this offseason, which will give Verse an opportunity to pick Donald’s brain in his quest to become one of the top defensive players.
Jared Verse ‘left around’ 10 sacks in rookie season with Rams
Jared Verse finished the 2024 season with 4.5 sacks, 66 total tackles, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed while starting 16 games.
While those numbers are impressive, Verse believes he left at least 10 sacks on the table. In order to improve his total this year, he emphasized the need to be more intentional on the field.
Tackling was an issue for Verse at the start of his rookie season, but he got better as the year went on and should be able to use this experience to his advantage in 2025.
