ESPN noted edge rusher Byron Young as a surprise player to watch after OTAs
Since the beginning of OTAs and minicamp, the Los Angeles Rams have had a fairly quiet offseason up to this point. They opted not to trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey and will likely be heading into training camp with the current roster as it stands.
While it’s hard to gauge player performance during this part of the offseason without pads on, that doesn’t mean that some players aren’t standing out and impressing the coaching staff. The important part will be carrying that momentum into training camp. ESPN recently had their team of beat writers select, “under-the-radar players that have been turning heads in OTAs and minicamps, fighting for starting spots or key depth roles.” In other words, a player who has unexpectedly risen to the occasion and could make a serious impact this season.
ESPN’s Sarah Bishop selected third-year edge rusher, Byron Young. Said Bishop,
“The 2023 third-round pick has had two strong seasons, amassing 15.5 sacks in his NFL career. But despite that success, outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio said he has noticed how “intentional” Young has been going into his third season. Coniglio said he challenged Young to continue to work on his “consistency,” because “when he’s at his best, it’s a lot of fun to watch.” “I think he’s going to take another step forward in regards to his game, his ability to affect games, his ability to disrupt offenses and be the player that he’s capable of being,” Coniglio said.”
This will be a big season for Young heading into 2025. While Young may not be threatened to lose his starting role, the Rams did draft edge rusher Josaiah Stewart in the third round. The selection of Stewart was likely one for the future, but he will still provide some competition for Young.
One of the big things for Young in 2025 is finding consistency. While he has 15.5 sacks over the last two years, he has hit a wall late in the year. From Weeks 1-11, Young has averaged 0.55 sacks per game compared to 0.32 sacks per game in Weeks 12-18.
Heading into year three, Young will be eligible to sign an extension after the season. While the Rams will need to make some difficult decisions along the defensive front with Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, and Kobie Turner also soon to be due for new contracts in the coming seasons. With a good year, the Rams may be able to structure a new Young contract so that it works out. However, if it is much of the same with a lack of production down the stretch, it may confirm the Rams’ plans to move on.
We’ll see what Young is able to do in 2025, but at the very least it appears that the coaching staff is optimistic that he can take that next step.
