Should Lions Trade Up for EDGE Jared Verse?
At this present moment, Detroit appears most likely to take a cornerback or EDGE rusher with its first-round selection in this April's NFL Draft (No. 29 overall).
Yet, with each passing day, there is also seemingly a new rumor that emerges about Lions general manager Brad Holmes targeting a big-name cornerback either via trade or in free agency (e.g. Kansas City's L'Jarius Sneed and Dallas’ Stephon Gilmore).
Subsequently, I get the feeling that Holmes will end up selecting an EDGE in the first round. He should have multiple options with the 29th pick, too, including Missouri's Darius Robinson and Penn State's Chop Robinson, both of whom have recently been frequently mocked to Detroit.
However, if Holmes and the Lions were willing to deal a few draft assets to trade up, Florida State EDGE Jared Verse would be a solid target for the organization.
Verse, who's been a popular pick for the New Orleans Saints at No. 14 overall in recent mock drafts, is widely viewed as a top-three EDGE prospect in this year's draft class.
The 6-foot-4, 254-pound Verse, equipped with a high motor and an explosive first step, showcased the ability to be a disruptive force as a pass-rusher during his four-year college career.
He spent his first two collegiate seasons at FCS-level Albany, where he racked up 14.5 sacks in 15 total games. And, he earned multiple accolades for his efforts, including CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and first-team CAA all-conference honors.
Additionally, upon transferring to Florida State, he picked up right where he left off. In two seasons and 21 total games with the Seminoles, he amassed 70 total tackles, including 21 for loss, 13 sacks, three passes defensed (all in 2023), two fumble recoveries and two blocked field goals. As a result of Verse's strong play, he was named first-team All-ACC and Florida State's defensive MVP in back-to-back seasons.
Also, he received Pro Football Focus overall marks of 82.4 and 84.4 in 2022 and 2023, respectively, including a PFF pass-rush grade of 90.8 this past season.
The physically-gifted Verse, oftentimes at the collegiate level, was able to use his brute strength to overpower opposing offensive linemen. However, he also possesses a strong repertoire of pass-rush moves that should translate well to the next level. Among his variety of moves, he can properly pull off a rip move, a spin move, a bull rush and perhaps most impressively, a speed rush along the arc.
Now, there's no denying the fact that Verse isn't as proficient of a run defender, and needs to refine his skills in that department. He received a pedestrian 65.3 PFF grade for his run-defense efforts just a season ago.
Yet, there's also no questioning Verse's adeptness at lining up at EDGE and getting after the quarterback. And, he arguably already has enough of the necessary intangibles to be a perennial Pro Bowl-caliber pass-rusher.
I believe that trading up for Verse will be tempting to Holmes. But, because of the draft capital that will be involved to pull off such a deal, I think he'll ultimately resist the urge to move up for the FSU defender.
