Rams’ Jared Verse is NFL’s defensive rookie of the year; Bills’ Josh Allen named MVP
- Share via
NEW ORLEANS — Jared Verse strolled the red carpet at NFL Honors on Thursday night in a sharp, bronze-colored suit, and the Rams edge rusher did so with the same confidence he displayed on and off the field in his first season.
A few hours later, Verse was announced as the defensive rookie of the year, the first Ram to win the award since Aaron Donald in 2014.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was the most valuable player.
A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL completed ballots before the playoffs began. Times reporters do not vote for awards.
Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley was the offensive player of the year, Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II the defensive player of the year. Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, a former standout at Cajon High, was the offensive rookie of the year and Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow the comeback player of the year. Minnesota’s Kevin O’Connell was coach of the year.
Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead was voted the Walter Payton Man of the Year for his excellence on and off the field.
Coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead said working out a contract extension for running back Kyren Williams is a priority for the Rams.
Verse said during training camp that he not only wanted to be one of the best players in the league but also one of the best ever.
“It’s a small step towards it,” he said after receiving the award, adding, “That’s the main thing — you can’t get satisfied. It’s just a small step to a big goal.”
Verse, the only Ram voted to the Pro Bowl, outdistanced teammate Braden Fiske, Eagles defensive backs Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson for the award.
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Verse began his college career at Albany before transferring to Florida State, where he teamed with Fiske to give the Seminoles a strong pass rush. Verse then exceeded expectations after the Rams selected him with the No. 19 pick in the draft.
Trent McDuffie of Bellflower St. John Bosco and JuJu Smith-Schuster of Long Beach Poly are back in the Super Bowl as Chiefs try to win third in a row.
The brash and loquacious Verse made an immediate impact on teammates and coaches during offseason workouts and continued to excel during training camp practices with the Chargers and Dallas Cowboys. He got his first sack in the opener against the Detroit Lions before struggling in a Week 2 rout by the Arizona Cardinals.
But Verse steadily improved. Though he finished with only 4½ sacks, he was regarded as one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the NFL. And he was not afraid to let opponents — and their fans — know it.
A few days after he returned a fumble 57 yards for a touchdown in an NFC wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, Verse riled the Philadelphia faithful by saying he hated Eagles fans and found them annoying.
Verse embraced the role of villain at Lincoln Financial Field. He had two sacks during the Rams’ defeat and won the respect of many fans with his play.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
