If Florida State edge rusher Jared Verse is on the board at 17, should Jacksonville ignore more pressing needs and take best player available?

The 2024 NFL Draft is just a couple of weeks away, so it’s time to brush up on the current crop of player profiles on site as we near the fun. Thus far, we’ve taken an in-depth look at a number of worthy prospects that the Jacksonville Jaguars could look at with their 17th overall pick, but there are still some notable names to get to before the fun kicks off in Detroit at the end of the month.

One name that has started to pop up on some national mock drafts as a target for Jacksonville of late is Florida State edge rusher, Jared Verse.

Firmly in the mix to be the top edge rusher off the board, Jared Verse is a physical, athletic player that can play in multiple fronts. That type of versatility is exactly what Jacksonville values in their edge defenders, so Verse makes a lot of sense if the Jags want to add another wrinkle to their Pass Rush alongside the tandem of Josh Allen and Travon Walker.

Let’s take a closer look at what Jared Verse could bring to the Jacksonville defense as we establish if he could be in play with the team’s 17th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Measurables

Height: 6-foot-4

Weight: 254lb

Career Statistics (at Florida State)

Sacks: 18

TFL: 29.5

(had 13.5 career sacks in two years at Albany before transferring to FSU)

Strengths

• Relentless motor
• Ideal blend of speed and power
• Three-down player who is more than willing to mix it up in the run game
• Advanced understanding of leverage and momentum
• Consistently puts tackles on their heels with twitched up get off
• 31 bench reps at the combine shows up all over his tape
• Quick, agile feet for a bulkier player
• Solid bag of pass rush moves including a violent stab/chop move and a smooth stutter-step hesitation setup

Weaknesses

• Not an overly bendy player
• Needs to learn to counter better when initial plan fails
• Doesn’t fight through double teams as often as you would like from a top-tier edge prospect
• Can get a little eager pre-snap which leads to some sloppy footwork off the snap
• Will be 24 midway through his rookie year

Projection and Fit

Jared Verse wouldn’t fill Jacksonville’s biggest need, but he’s too talented a player to pass on if he’s available come pick 17. His ability to win with both power and speed would be such a boost to a Jacksonville pass rush that relies solely on Josh Allen and Travon Walker to create pressure at the moment.

With Verse in the mix, it would allow defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen to deploy some terrifying third down personnel packages that could see Allen, Walker, Verse and Arik Armstead all getting after the passer at the same time.

That type of pass rush could be just the answer to the suddenly star-powered passing attacks across the AFC South.

Conclusion

Jared Verse could very well have been a top-10 pick in last year’s draft, but decided to return to Florida State to improve his game. He was able to do just that, as he made big strides in terms of his bag of pass rush moves, as well as his consistency in the run game to become arguably the most well-rounded edge prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The talent and value for Jacksonville is undeniable, so it would really come down to whether the team are looking to attack a specific need like corner or receiver, or go the best player available route. If it’s the latter, Jared Verse makes a ton of sense.

Grade: 9.1 (Immediate impact player)

Big Cat Country NFL Draft Grading Scale

9.5 to 10 – Top-10 lock. Rare attributes both physically and mentally. Clearly the most talented player on the field in college. Game-changing/wrecking projection at the next level. Potential be top-10 at their position right away.

8.5 to 9.4 – Unquestioned first-round prospect. Elite physical and mental profile. Performed consistently at a high level, no matter the competition in college. Expectations to be an immediate impact player.

7.5 to 8.4 – Mixed opinions on first-round projection. Above average physical profile. Considered a great player at respective school but not a household name. Performs admirably against top competition. Potential to be an immediate starter at the next level. 1-2 round pick.

6.5 to 7.4 – Day 2 prospect. Good athlete but can’t match up with the league’s best. Productive collegiate career. Expectation to perform in a rotational role as a rookie. Potential to become a starter over time.

5.5 to 6.4 – Fringe late Day 2/early Day 3 prospect. Admirable athletic profile. More potential than finished product. Lacking necessary measurables at their position but have found ways to win without them. Rotational piece with a role on special teams as well.

4.5 to 5.4– Day 3 prospect. Either a low ceiling athletically or undersized for their position. Potential for red flag of some sort (exp. Injuries, lack of college production, off-field issues etc.). Still provides an element of intrigue when projecting to the next level. Predominately a special teams player.

3.5 to 4.4 – Bottom half of Day 3 prospect. Underwhelming collegiate career (or small school product). Has a singular trait that’s worth a late round swing of the bat. Chance to compete for a roster spot in training camp. Uphill battle to make final 53.

2 to 3.4 - Priority free agent signee. Traits worth exploring. Camp body.

1 to 1.9 – Clearly not of NFL quality. Lacks the necessary athletic, mental, and skill levels to make any contributions in the league.

Other draft profiles:

Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo

Keon Coleman, WR, FSU

Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Jackson Powers-Johnson, OC/OG, Oregon

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas