Jared Verse named 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

The NFL announced Jared Verse won the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year award. The announcement was made during the 14th annual NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday and aired on FOX and the NFL network.

Associated Press writers from across the country determined this year’s winner. The five finalists for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award were Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, Los Angeles Rams defensive end Braden Fiske, Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, Miami Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson, Verse.

Cooper DeJean finished the 2024 season with 50 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, six pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, three QB hits and pressures, and a half-sack. When he took over as the nickel cornerback in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, the Eagles became a stronger defense, allowing 15.9 points per game and 251.1 total yards per contest.

Braden Fiske recorded 8.5 sacks, which led the Rams. He also recorded 44 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 17 games with 17 starts.

More on the Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists

Quinyon Mitchell ranked third among NFL cornerbacks with 16 forced incompletions and third and yards allowed per coverage snap. He finished the season with 46 tackles and 12 pass deflections while playing in 91 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.

Chop Robinson appeared in all 17 games for the Dolphins and notched 26 tackles, six sacks, eight tackles for loss, 14 quarterback hits and four passes defended. His six sacks and 14 quarterback hits were both the second-most among NFL rookies in 2024. Robinson also tied Marco Coleman (1992) for the most sacks among rookies in Dolphins history.

Jared Verse recorded 66 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 18 quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 17 games with 16 starts. Last month, Verse was named Defensive Rookie of the Year by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA).

Verse and Fiske played well together, which is not a surprise since they both played at Florida State. “We drafted them to bring an element of disruption from the front four or front five, depending on whether you’re in base, nickel, all those things,” general manager Les Snead said back in early November, per the Rams’ official website. “To keep it simple, we drafted them to help us disrupt and I think they’re doing their part in helping us disrupt opposing offenses.”