Jared Verse – Defensive end – 23 years old – Senior – Florida State
Height: 1m95
Weight: 115 kilos
Estimated draft position: 10-20
NFL Comparison: Brian Burns (New York Giants)
If Jared Verse spent two seasons at Florida State, he spent three more in Albany. A tight end in high school, it was at the second level of college that he became a defensive lineman.
“Playing offense is fun: catching the ball, scoring a touchdown and celebrating with your teammates. But being able to put someone on the ground is even better! “, he declared to the Times Union
After 18 sacks in 25 games with Florida State (30 tackles for losses in total), he presents himself as one of the most reassuring profiles at a very important position.
Highlights of Jared Verse
– Powerful
– Explosive
– Already solid range of movements
After 9 sacks in 2022, he was closely monitored by opposing offensive lines and often taken by two players. This did not prevent Jared Verse from signing 9 sacks again in 2023.
His power is impressive and he is capable of pushing back an offensive lineman with his Bull Rush. In fact, this power allows his coordinator to sometimes align him further inside the field. During the NFL Combine, he confirmed in figures the visual impression left in the matches: 31 bench presses with a 100 kilo bar (best result in his position and 4th overall in the 2024 NFL Combine).
Containing a powerful player is not easy for an offensive tackle, but if this defender is also fast, it becomes 60 minutes in purgatory! Jared Verse explodes as soon as the ball is engaged like a sprinter coming out of his starting blocks. Here again, Jared Verse confirmed this speed during the NFL Combine: 4.58 seconds in the 40-yard dash while he weighs 115 kilos!
Powerful and explosive, he also knows how to make a difference with his varied arm play and hands that destabilize his opponent.
Weakness of Jared Verse
– Lack of fluidity in his movements
When it is necessary to outflank his opponent, Jared Verse uses speed, power and technique. But when it is necessary to change direction, to react to cuts runners, its flexibility is not optimal. Likewise if he has to cover a tight end changing direction once he has the ball in hand.
The NFL Combine sometimes allows NFL decision-makers to decide between two players of the same position. Weighing exactly the same weight, Chop Robinson ran a tenth of a second faster in the 40 yard dash and above all set a better time on the exercise of shuttle measuring changes of direction: 4.25 seconds compared to 4.44 for Jared Verse.
In summary
If he does not offer the highest potential of this vintage, Jared Verse seems capable of becoming a solid starter in the NFL. Playing a position of great importance on the pitch and with a mix of power and explosiveness, he will be highly coveted at the end of April!
Possible destinations
Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals
Going from the opponents of Albany to those of the first university level such as Clemson, Miami or North Carolina was not easy. Jared Verse nailed this transition perfectly. Enough to reassure NFL scouts because the professional league also represents an increase in level for beginners.
The Atlanta Falcons have doubled their number of sacks between 2022 and 2023 (from 21 to 42)! But this result nevertheless remains in the bottom third in the NFL. While the offense should perform well, this team also needs to improve its defense.
With 8 sacks, rookie Byron Young confirmed in the NFL the talent he saw at the University of Tennessee. However, this should not hold the Los Angeles Rams back from adding another player, especially after the retirement of Aaron Donald on the interior. Shaquil Barrett went south from the state of Florida to Miami, so the Buccaneers could be interested in the last third of the 1st round of the 2024 draft, just like the Cardinals with their second choice of the 1st round (27th).