Florida State EDGE rusher Jared Verse is as safe as safe picks get — he’s strong as an ox, plays the run & pass effectively, and at 23 years old he likely doesn’t have much untapped potential left in his game. What you see is what you get.
Jared Verse is a force when defending the run. His pass rush is solid (if sometimes unspectacular), but his run D consistently pops, especially when compared to the other EDGEs in this class.
Curious as to how much Ryan Poles & Matt Eberflus value that 3-down versatility. pic.twitter.com/hmAbW7fGkQ
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) April 21, 2024
The numbers back up Verse’s on-field production — between Verse, Dallas Turner, and Laiatu Latu, Verse posted the clear best Run Stop Rate while still posting a Pass Rush Win Rate in-line with the best names in the draft. With Verse, versatility is the name of the game.
EDGE rusher career pass rush win rate and run stop rate in this year's draft. Jared Verse and Laiatu Latu showing up well here while Dallas Turner still showing up well as a pass rusher but not great as a run defender pic.twitter.com/6dI1HSpuwx
— Arjun Menon (@arjunmenon100) April 9, 2024
(Here’s a quick cut-up of Verse rushing the passer)
Quick cut up of Jared Verse’s 8 pressures!!! vs Wake. Dominant showing
– 8 Pressures (Career High)
– Only 17 Pass Rush Snaps
– 35.3% Pass Rush Win Rate
– 47.1% Pressure Rate
– 85.4 Pass Rush Grade pic.twitter.com/yZhkOAIgHE— Clay Fink (@clay_fink) October 30, 2023
Verse has the lowest ceiling of the big 3 DL prospects, but he comes with none of the red flags that the others do. He’s an “eat your vegetables” pick, and if he’s Ryan Poles’ target I’d hope Chicago trades down before selecting him. Still, if he’s the pick, I’m intrigued — the Bears need a pass rusher and Verse certainly fits the bill.
If he can become a 7-10 sack player, I think the defense takes a needed step forward — as of now Chicago has one reliable pass-rusher, and Verse (or Turner, Murphy, even Newton) would give them a key second threat that opens up 1-on-1s for Gervon Dexter and everyone else on the defensive line.
There are many ways Ryan Poles can improve the team on Thursday, and thankfully almost all of his options are good ones. I can’t wait to see who he selects.
Catch up on Jeff’s audio antics from this weekend here:
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) April 20, 2024
Your Turn: Thoughts on Jared Verse?
