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The NFL has Rookie of the Month honors on offense and defense, and while it’s easy to give Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels the offensive nod for September, it’s harder to find rookie impact on the defensive side of the ball.
If you remember, the 2024 NFL Draft had no defensive players selected in the top 14 picks, so from the start, there wasn’t an expectation of a splash pass-rusher or lockdown corner in this class. And four weeks in, that’s how it’s been with the rookies — 19 rookies have played in 70% of their offensive snaps this season, but only seven rookies have played 70% or more on defense.
None of the first-round picks has more than one sack, and no rookies have more than one interception. To find a defensive rookie leading the NFL in anything, you’d have to turn to Lions corner Terrion Arnold, who leads the league with 118 penalty yards in his first four games. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been kind to him, ranking him 94th out of 97 cornerbacks so far this season.
If you had to pick a Defensive Rookie of the Month for September, you could make a good case for Rams defensive lineman Jared Verse, the leader of a deep rookie class in Los Angeles. He has five tackles for loss, the most among rookies, with a sack among his 19 tackles. PFF ranks him as the league’s No. 16 edge rusher, one spot ahead of fellow rookie Laiatu Latu from the Colts.
Verse and his former Florida State teammate Braden Fiske, the Rams’ second-round pick, have been a solid 1-2 punch up front. Fiske got his first career sack and forced a fumble from rookie Caleb Williams in Sunday’s loss to the Bears. Due to injuries, the Rams now have 18 rookies on their 53-man roster — with several pressed onto service. With top receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined by injuries, sixth-round pick Jordan Whittington played all but two snaps Sunday and led the Rams with six catches for 62 yards.
Two other mid-round rookies worth mentioning on the defensive side: Cowboys linebacker…
Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/rams-jared-verse-cowboys-demarvion-overshown-stand-out-nfl-rookie-report
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Publish date : 2024-10-02 12:53:57
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