The 2024 NFL draft was absolutely loaded with defensive playmakers. On Thursday night at the NFL Honors, they handed out the Rookie of the Year Awards and had to choose among some very talented players.
On offense, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels won the away going away after having the best rookie season of all time. But on defense, it was more contested with four players getting first-place votes. In the end, Los Angeles Rams edge defender Jared Verse beat out teammate Braden Fiske and Lions cornerback Quinyon Mitchell to get the honor.
Here is how the voting broke down for the top seven.
Jared Verse 37-10-2-0-1: 427
Quinyon Mitchell 9-23-10-1-2: 239
Braden Fiske 1-5-11-11-6: 96
Cooper DeJean 0-5-14-8-8: 91
Chop Robinson 0-4-6-16-4: 74
Edgerrin Cooper 0-1-3-4-8: 30
Tarheeb Still 1-0-3-2-4: 27
Verse started 16 of 17 games for the Rams last season. He finished with 66 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles.
A strong case can be made that Fiske, a fellow Ram had a much better season. Fiske finished with 8.5 sacks as an interior defensive lineman and only eight starts in 2024.
