LOS ANGELES – The Rams opened the 2024 NFL draft by addressing their defensive line, selecting Florida State’s Jared Verse with the 19th pick of the first round. JARED VERSE – EDGE – 6 feet 4, 254 pounds, Florida State, Round 1, Pick 19 – Notable: Verse played two seasons at Albany before transferring to Florida State. He amassed 31 1/2 sacks during his career, including 18 at Florida State. In 2023, he had at least two sacks in four games, including 2½ against Florida. – Last season: Verse had nine sacks and 1 1/2 tackles for losses in 13 games for the Seminoles. He was an AFCA All-American. – Why the Rams drafted him: Future Hall of Fame defensive lineman Aaron Donald’s retirement left a gaping hole in a pass rush that already was in need of reinforcements. Tackle Kobie Turner and edge rusher Byron Young showed promise last season as rookies but – for the Rams to compete for a Super Bowl title – new defensive coordinator Chris Shula needs more players who can consistently pressure quarterbacks. Copyright (C) 2022, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
