The Los Angeles Rams have found the most advantageous way to replace Aaron Donald by selecting former Florida State Seminoles edge rusher Jared Verse.
The team did not trade
up as some expected them to, instead utilizing their first first-round pick since 2016 to add a big piece to their defense.
Verse will be a high asset in setting the edge against the run and adding fire to the pass rush overall.
"Things sure fell into place nicely for Los Angeles as it looks to reconfigure its pass rush after Aaron Donald’s retirement," USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote of the selection. "Verse isn’t the most pliable threat off the edge, but he ticks almost every other box for a player who will create consistent havoc for opposing quarterbacks. With Verse, Kobie Turner and Byron Young, the Rams have several long-term building blocks one year after it looked like the defense was devoid of any outside of Donald."
Verse finished out the 2023 season with 41 combined tackles (23 solo), 9 sacks 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery. It will be interesting to watch what he is able to accomplish across the Rams defense, and it is almost for certain that they will add a passing target for the quarterback in their next move of the draft.
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