Drafting edge rusher, Jared Verse in the first round and trading up in the second to draft defensive tackle, Braden Fiske was the Los Angeles Rams‘ answer to the hardest question in the NFL this offseason — How do you replace Aaron Donald?
And how is that going through five weeks of the 2024 season? In some ways it’s going well and in others, not so much.
Rams Defenders Lead Rookies In Quarterback Pressures
A part of why they drafted the former Florida State Seminole teammates is that the Rams liked how they worked together to get to quarterbacks. That part is working out. They currently lead all defenders in QB pressures, with Verse leading the pack with 20 pressures and Fiske getting 15. The next closest rookie defender in this stat is Indianapolis Colts outside linebacker, Laiatu Latu, with just 11.
Verse is tied with Kobie Turner, leading the Rams and Fiske is third. Fiske has more than double the next-best rookie interior defensive lineman. Byron Murphy, Seattle Seahawks, has seven pressures. He was drafted 23 spots ahead of Fiske
The duo is outperforming also outperforming 2023’s rookies. Jalen Carter led the pack through five weeks, with 14 pressures. And compared to the GOAT himself, Donald started his rookie season with just seven pressures in his first five games.
They Have Also Missed The Most Tackles
But pressure is where their domination stops. In other pressure stats, they have mediocre stats. The majority of pressure has resulted in hurries, not hits or sacks. Four of Verse’s pressures have resulted in a hit and Fiske has no QB hits. They each only have one sack.
What is even more concerning is that they are also leading rookies in missed tackles. Verse has missed 11 and Fiske has missed five. In fact, Verse is just two behind the league leader, Colts linebacker EJ Speed.
When comparing their numbers, again, to Donald’s, draws a stark contrast. Donald never missed more than 11 tackles in a season and is only credited with 51 through 10 years of his career.
If Verse continues this pace he will finish the season with 37 missed tackles. That would be the most missed tackles in a single season going back to at least 2006. That is among all defenders, not just edge rushers. No edge rusher has had more than 18 missed tackles going back 10 seasons.
