Two Rams land on projected 2024 NFL All-Rookie Team
May 21, 2024, Thousand Oaks, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse (8) wears a Guardian helmet cap during organized team activities at Cal Lutheran University. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
After seeing how impactful Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner, Byron Young and Steve Avila all were last season, the Los Angeles Rams can only hope to get similar production from their incoming class of rookies. Expecting to have Rookie of the Year candidates on both sides of the ball is unrealistic, but the Rams hope Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Blake Corum and the other seven rookies in their 2024 class can step up and become key contributors this year.
NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has high expectations for Verse and Fiske, picking both of them for his projected 2024 NFL All-Rookie Team. The Rams are the only team with two defensive players on Reuter’s All-Rookie Team, which shows how highly the analyst things of the two Florida State defenders.
The biggest question for both Verse and Fiske – as well as the Rams’ other pass rushers – is whether they can beat double-teams without Donald drawing so much attention from opposing offensive linemen. Donald attracted so many double- and triple-teams during his time in the NFL that it gave the Rams’ edge rushers one-on-one matchups.
Obviously, Verse and Fiske never played alongside Donald, but they won’t benefit from his greatness the way many others such as Young, Turner, Dante Fowler Jr. and Leonard Floyd did.
The fact that the Rams kept the two former Seminoles on the same defense bodes well for both players because they were so good as teammates last season, absolutely dominating the game against Louisville to win the ACC title. Both should be considered Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates in 2024.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Two Rams land on projected 2024 NFL All-Rookie Team