2024 NFL Draft: FSU's Jared Verse Meets With Jaguars at Combine

The Jacksonville Jaguars already have their Week 1 starters along the edge, but that doesn't mean they won't do their homework on this year's pass-rushing class.

And among the best pass-rushers in the class is FSU's Jared Verse, who said on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine that he has met with the Jaguars this week.

#FSU’s Jared Verse says that he has met with the Buccaneers, Bears, Broncos, Bengals, and Jaguars at the NFL Combine so far. #Noles
— Logan B. Robinson (@LogansTwitty) February 28, 2024

After starting his career at Albany, an FCS program where he recorded 13.5 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss over three seasons, Verse transferred to FSU in 2022.

Verse was named FSU's defensive MVP and a first-team All-ACC selection in 2022 after 17 tackles for loss and nine sacks in nine starts. He then ended his career on a high note in 2023 with 12.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

It would be a surprise if the Jaguars took a pass-rusher at No. 17 overall after they passed on several options in the draft, free agency and trade deadline in 2023 based on the premise that they already had two starters. That scenario hasn't changed, especially after Josh Allen and Travon Walker combined for 27.5 sacks.

The Jaguars lacked pass-rush depth behind Allen and Walker, however, and have pending free agents in backup pass-rushers Dawuane Smoot and K'Lavon Chaisson.

“Everyone has their opinion on that. I don’t ever try to look back and say, ‘What if?’ There’s things that we’ve got to do better and ultimately, it falls on my shoulders to make the right decisions and make the right moves," Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said about last year's pass-rush on Tuesday.

"With obviously a lot of discussion and talk with Coach [Head Coach Doug Pederson], and we’re very much on the same page. We work hard to be on the same page. We’re going to continue to do what we do.”

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