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Young Rams Defender Predicted To Take Home Major Hardware After Taking Big Leap In 2025

Originally posted on LAFB Network | By Ryan Anderson | Last updated Aug 30, 2025 6:35 PM ET

Football is back, and Los Angeles Rams fans finally get to see the starters return to SoFi Stadium. But this year, the excitement isn’t just about the team — it’s about the potential leap of a second-year star.

The Athletic’s Jeff Howe recently toured NFL training camps, surveying the competition across the league. After watching the Rams up close, he didn’t hesitate to raise the bar for 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse — suggesting the young edge rusher could make the jump to Defensive Player of the Year in 2025.

Jared Verse Ready to Take the Next Step for the Rams

Young Rams Defender Predicted To Take Home Major Hardware After Taking Big Leap In 2025 1 Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Verse’s rookie season was disruptive in ways the stat sheet didn’t capture. He finished with 4.5 sacks but an eye-popping 89 pressures, often forcing offenses to alter protection schemes just to slow him down. Even then, he left plays on the field. He rattled Eagles fans, then capped a snowstorm showdown in Philadelphia with two sacks of Jalen Hurts — proof that the spotlight only fuels him.

This offseason, Verse sharpened his repertoire. Once known for his brute-force bull rush, he’s now added a speed rush that leaves even seasoned tackles guessing. With blockers already occupied by Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, and Byron Young, the attention Verse commands will only amplify the chaos around him.

That’s why some around the league see him as a breakout candidate for DPOY. A rival executive even predicted he could be “the league’s best defensive player this season,” according to Howe’s report. DraftKings currently lists Verse with the eighth-best odds at +1500.

Whether it translates to hardware or not, Verse is already one of the NFL’s most feared young defenders — and the Rams’ defense might have another cornerstone star leading them toward another Super Bowl run.

This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.

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