Jared Verse Will Dominate in the NFL

First Round Mock’s Thomas Coletta takes a close look at FSU edge rusher Jared Verse, one of the biggest names in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Florida State University has had its share of star defensive ends the past couple of years; Jermaine Johnson, Brian Burns, and Josh Sweat. The next guy to add to this list is Verse. This guy can blow up the pocket.

This 6-foot-4 end is looking to add his name to this group this next April and I don’t think he’ll have to wait too long to hear his name called.

2022 Review

Verse played very well last season boasting an impressive stat line with nine sacks while also pushing the pocket to help freshman Patrick Payton have five of his own. Verse likely would have been a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had he declared, but the defensive end class was very deep, so he might not have gone as high as he would have liked.

This year, he is the best pass rusher in the country even though his sack total might not show it yet. He has logged 2.5 sacks so far this year but he’s the best player on the FSU defense and helped them win big games against LSU and Clemson.

Game film strengths/weaknesses

His strengths list is very long – – to say the least

Verse has great size for an end and weighs 260 pounds. He is very fast, and I think he could run anywhere from a 4.6 to 4.8 40-yard dash prior to the draft.

What do you see when you turn on the tape?

Elite pass rush moves and Verse utilizes his perfect combination of strength and speed to jump off the edge on every snap. The thing that’s really noticeable is this – – his motor – – he’s relentless.

Watching him during the games, he appears to be a great leader for this defensive unit and likely is great in the locker room too.

Weaknesses?

That list is not as long. Things I noticed while evaluating him, sometimes he can get a little too eager to rush the passer, which can cause him to overshoot the play.

Verse can also stand to improve as a run-stopper. In 2022, he logged 47 total tackles, 22 were solo and 25 were assists. Missing tackles in the backfield didn’t help his cause.

What should we expect from Verse for the rest of the season?

I expect dominance for the rest of the year for this FSU edge rusher. He should add a good number of sacks and finish strong. If FSU can make the College Football Playoffs, I expect him to be dominant there as well. I believe he will lead this defense and help them to make a push at the National Championship.

Verse will only boost his draft stock from here on out – – and eventually make the transition from dominating on Saturdays to doing the same thing on Sundays.

2024 NFL Draft Verse

Pro Comparison: Brian Burns (Carolina Panthers)

Both Verse and Burns are big-bodied pass rushers who possess tremendous athleticism. Neither one of them has any problem getting after the quarterback. They are great pass rushes at their respective levels of competition and both can cause havoc for any offensive line trying to protect their quarterback.

Draft Grade: First-Round

I would for sure give Verse the first-round nod as I can see him going as high as top-10.

He’s the best pass rusher in this draft class and he’ll show that next season at the pro level.

When we look back, I expect to see him named to multiple Pro Bowls and to be considered as one of the top edge rushers in his prime.

Game Film Reviewed:

LSU ’22

Clemson ’22

LSU ’23

Virginia Tech ’23

Bottom line

Keep a close eye on Verse and his impressive pass-rushing skills.

Thomas Coletta is an aspiring NFL General Manager and he’s a junior at Florida State University studying Sports Management. He is from Windermere, Florida and grew up a huge Patriots fan. He currently writes NFL Draft prospects articles on FirstRoundMock, and is hoping to get his name recognized.