Who Is Jared Verse?
The Minnesota Vikings have been linked to every quarterback imaginable regarding the 2024 NFL Draft.
Who Is Jared Verse?
Ultimately, they must decide if Kirk Cousins will remain in purple or if a rookie is ready to take the reins. Recent steam suggests their first-round pick may not be used on that position, though, and a specific edge rusher keeps popping up.
What they do at edge rusher may be equally important to the quarterback position for Minnesota. Danielle Hunter is a free agent, and he will certainly command a sizable payday. The Vikings should do what they can to retain his services after a standout 2023, but Brian Flores will have no one to rush the opposing passer if he departs. That could be taken care of with the 11th overall pick, and Jared Verse continues to be a name that pops up.
The Florida State Seminole played 25 games over the last two seasons of collegiate action. Starting as a sophomore, Verse put up nine sacks and a strong 17 tackles for loss. He contributed 48 total tackles and was an absolute force on the defensive front. He retained that same presence last season with another nine sacks and 12.5 tackles for losses. With 41 total tackles as a junior, he capped off a wildly successful collegiate career.
Having spent time at the FCS level before joining Florida State, Verse could have entered the draft a year ago and wound up as a first-round pick. Instead, he now has the chops to be the first edge rusher taken, and the small improvements he has made elevate his overall profile. He’s a very quick athlete who can put pressure on the offensive line with his speed, and his motor helps the overall frame to immediately get on the opposition.
When replacing the production lost by Hunter or any other recent edge rushers for the Vikings, Minnesota will be looking for someone who can step in as a day-one starter. While Marcus Davenport offered absolutely nothing on the field last year, Hunter was productive enough on his own to keep the position group afloat.
The expectation for Verse, or any other rookie, to immediately carry that burden is high. Making sure that there is an upward trajectory for the future is something that the Vikings need to get right.
Minnesota has had a long line of talented pass rushers. Jared Allen and Brian Robison were a force for years, and Hunter also paired with Everson Griffen to take on signal callers. Eventually, Hunter will phase out, and someone new will need to step in. Maybe that happens now, and maybe Verse is that guy, but only time will tell.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes weekly for Twins Daily. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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