Jared Verse's rookie season included a Pro Bowl nod, a Defensive Rookie of the Year honor and a well-documented spat with Eagles fans.
He needed his first NFL offseason to learn that while he's made strides in just one year, he still has work to do in order to reach the level of a Rams legend. Clearly feeling emboldened by a strong debut season, Verse chirped at future Pro Football Hall of Famer Aaron Donald in the early June, criticizing Donald's lifting techniques before challenging the Super Bowl LVI-winning lineman to a workout.
Verse learned his lesson when Donald accepted his challenge and blessed him with an experience Verse will never forget -- one that included a plea to Donald's wife to "call the police" -- and might not want to endure again.
"I'm telling you, he's a psychopath," Verse told NFL Network's Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Rose on Saturday. "I need like another offseason to get on that. It was so bad."
A skeptical Jones-Drew questioned Verse's response, saying "it can't be that bad."
Verse's blank stare said it all.
"I've worked out at multiple programs. I've worked out with hundreds of people, best athletes in the NFL, best athletes in college. That was the hardest workout I've ever done.
"Not even close. Like, you know them hell days in college? Couldn't hold a candle to that."
Verse's arrival to Los Angeles (along with Florida State teammate Braden Fiske) delivered the final pieces of general manager Les Snead's successful reconstruction of the Rams' defensive line following Donald's retirement, and while he only finished with 4.5 sacks in 2024, he'd made enough of an impression on tape to take home the top first-year honor for defenders.
Those who were tasked with blocking him understood Verse was a rare specimen who was only just scratching the surface. Just ask Terron Armstead, whose retirement liberated him to admit he was glad he never had to see Verse on the field again.
Countless others would have said the same about Donald, an all-time great who detonated interior blockers over the course of a 10-year career that included three Defensive Player of the Year honors, eight first-team All-Pro selections and 10 Pro Bowl trips.
Donald earned the most coveted reward of all in 2021 when he helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI, an achievement Verse has yet to match. In order to get there, Verse might need to spend more offseason time with Donald, even if he isn't looking forward to it.
"He needs to stay away from me," Verse joked Thursday. "If security sees him on the property, they need to take care of him."
