From Florida State to Defensive Rookie of the Year finalists, Jared Verse and Braden Fiske have had quite the run together in the last two seasons.
The NFL announced finalists for each AP award on Thursday and both of the former Seminoles are among the players up for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Verse and Fiske are joined by Eagles cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, as well as Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson as the finalists for the award.
Verse has been the favorite to win it for several weeks, though Quinyon Mitchell did overtake him atop the odds board for one brief moment in mid-December. Verse is expected to be announced as the Defensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors show on Feb. 6.
The finalists for AP Defensive Rookie of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/sULpgAsMsO
— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2025
Verse, who has already won PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year, led all rookies with 77 pressures, 18 quarterback hits and 56 hurries. He finished the season with 4.5 sacks, adding two more in the Rams’ playoff loss to the Eagles.
Fiske had the most sacks of any rookie with 8.5, which also led the Rams this season. According to Pro Football Focus, Fiske ranked second among all rookies in the NFL with 59 pressures.
It’ll likely be Verse winning the hardware, but both rookies should be incredibly proud of the remarkable seasons they just had in Los Angeles.
