ESPN Ranks Top 10 Edge Rushers

[Neil039]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...uts-2025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings​

​

10. Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams​

Highest ranking: 6 | Lowest ranking: unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie)

Verse, coming off Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, defeated Brian Burns and Nik Bonitto in a tiebreaker for the 10th spot.

Verse is a tough evaluation because of his lack of production. His 4.5 sacks and 17.5% pass rush win rate are modest. He didn't appear on many ballots as a result. But this description of Verse from now-retired offensive tackle Terron Armstead is somewhat common around the league.

When posing tiebreakers to league execs, the responses were swift: VERSE!

Just like you can't teach height in basketball, you can't teach Verse's power.

"He's a man," an NFC personnel executive said. "Very unique strength."

Verse was credited with 24 incompletions and three interceptions created, both quality numbers. And his 23.3% double-team rate was fourth on this list behind greats Parsons, Garrett and Crosby.

Competition at the deep NFL position is the only thing working to Verse's disadvantage.

"It's not that he's not ascending into a premier rusher, but he's not ahead of some of the others who are more productive or better run players right now," said an NFC executive who doesn't think Verse should be in the top 10.

 

[Londoner]

 

[BigRamFan]

How dafuq was his “highest ranking” #6 when they claim he had to go through tiebreakers to get to #10 and wasn’t eligible last year? BSPN…smh.

 

[OldSchool]

Because some didn't have him on their list. One guy thought him #6 others thought less of him.

How dafuq was his “highest ranking” #6 when they claim he had to go through tiebreakers to get to #10 and wasn’t eligible last year? BSPN…smh.

 

[thirteen28]

He'll be top 5 when this list comes out next season.

 

[PARAM]

Did Armstead ever name the other two? In 2024, he played against 4 guys on that top 10 list. Verse, Bosa, Crosby and Garrett.

 

[OldSchool]

Did Armstead ever name the other two? In 2024, he played against 4 guys on that top 10 list. Verse, Bosa, Crosby and Garrett.

Watt and Garrett were the other two.

 

[BigRamFan]

Because some didn't have him on their list. One guy thought him #6 others thought less of him.

Doh! Thank you for clearing that up. Gonna go with “senior moment”.

 

[PARAM]

Watt and Garrett were the other two.

Well I'm happy with that. He's got Verse #3 while the folks at ESPN don't. They measure in stats while Armstead measures in "OH SHIT" moments.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

If he learns to finish sacks, he'll be #1 on the list. I believe he led the league in pressures?

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

“He’s different.” -Terron Armstead

 

[Steve808]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...uts-2025-espn-jeremy-fowler-position-rankings​

​

10. Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams​

Highest ranking: 6 | Lowest ranking: unranked
Age: 24 | Last year's ranking: not eligible (rookie)

Verse, coming off Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, defeated Brian Burns and Nik Bonitto in a tiebreaker for the 10th spot.

Verse is a tough evaluation because of his lack of production. His 4.5 sacks and 17.5% pass rush win rate are modest. He didn't appear on many ballots as a result. But this description of Verse from now-retired offensive tackle Terron Armstead is somewhat common around the league.

When posing tiebreakers to league execs, the responses were swift: VERSE!

Just like you can't teach height in basketball, you can't teach Verse's power.

"He's a man," an NFC personnel executive said. "Very unique strength."

Verse was credited with 24 incompletions and three interceptions created, both quality numbers. And his 23.3% double-team rate was fourth on this list behind greats Parsons, Garrett and Crosby.

Competition at the deep NFL position is the only thing working to Verse's disadvantage.

"It's not that he's not ascending into a premier rusher, but he's not ahead of some of the others who are more productive or better run players right now," said an NFC executive who doesn't think Verse should be in the top 10.

These ratings by talking heads means nothing. On field play will speak for itself.

 

[Neil039]

These ratings by talking heads means nothing. On field play will speak for itself.

I'll stand by the article I didn't write on a network I don't own.

 

[Merlin]

If he learns to finish sacks, he'll be #1 on the list. I believe he led the league in pressures?

Pressures are what matters. QBs feel him. Prob is he fucks up contain a lot.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Not taking anything from how amazing Verse is, but I think our pass rush is a combination of several amazing players along our front seven and their individual play-by-play effort. And I think it's going to show even more this year as we rotate talent in and keep them fresh.

 

[TexasRam]

Love Verse but he needs more production and less talking.

Love the attitude and fear he strikes.

But he needs to reach that next level to be elite. I hope he puts in the work.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Not taking anything from how amazing Verse is, but I think our pass rush is a combination of several amazing players along our front seven and their individual play-by-play effort. And I think it's going to show even more this year as we rotate talent in and keep them fresh.

Isn’t that the case with any defensive line. You can hardly have a one man show, unless it’s named Aaron Donald, and even then he could have benefitted from some better pieces around him, in the second half of his career. Imagine AD and verse together.

 

[RamDino]

If Verse can take that next step (more production) he will be among the greats. This year will be a very exciting year for him (and us). He's getting a lot of accolades right now, and rightly so, after a great rookie year and an unreal post season.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Isn’t that the case with any defensive line. You can hardly have a one man show, unless it’s named Aaron Donald, and even then he could have benefitted from some better pieces around him, in the second half of his career. Imagine AD and verse together.

My point was the *SUCCESS* of our current pass rush lay in the immense talent and effort of the line and the edge rushers in particular.
There's been times when we have not had this talent and it showed.
And most teams have not been able to draft as well as we have in the last 3 years.
That's what I think is somewhat unique with the LA Rams here and now.

 

[jap]

If he learns to finish sacks, he'll be #1 on the list. I believe he led the league in pressures?

Last season V8 was a very uncommon rookie dealing with fairly common rookie issues. He had to get used to the higher speed, strength, acceleration, and savviness of NFL players. He often rushed way too aggressively, losing containment on athletic QBs or elusive RBs who would run away from him. I remember in the first Cardinal game he had their QB dead to rights for a sure sack, and the QB ducked under V8's arms to extend the play. You better believe he is learning Big-time from all this as he reviewed his performance from last year. I truly believe he missed 10+ sacks last season alone. I am so glad he has a healthy relationship with AD99 because the Kraken is a treasure-trove of wisdom. As good as he was last season, his sophomore year should be a dramatic improvement, barring injury.