Rams rookie tabbed as early favorite to win a prestigious rookie award before the season even starts

Jared Verse, the Los Angeles Rams' first-round draft pick, already has lofty expectations. 

One NFL analyst with ESPN has the defensive end as the pick for Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

"Jared Verse, DE, Los Angeles Rams," Stephania Bell writes. "Verse comes ready-made to slot right into the Rams' front seven. He is talented and powerful, and the Rams' defense needed an edge rusher who could make an immediate impact. Verse recorded a team-leading 18 sacks and 83 pressures in the past two seasons at Florida State."

Bell's pick was backed up by Jeremy Fowler, who also selected Verse to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

"Verse," Fowler writes. "Laiatu Latu and Dallas Turner got most of the bump as top pass-rushers, but Verse is a unique player with serious power. In the post-Aaron Donald era, Verse could become the face of the Rams' defense."

Two other writers selected Verse to be the Defensive Rookie of the Year. It is a lofty goal to put on the shoulders of a player who hasn't seen one second of field time yet. However, he has the talent to live up to the name.