LA Rams can look to LB Kenny Young as 2020 starter

Young was a hybrid defender before it became popular

As other teams drafted track stars, the Ravens quietly selected a fierce football player. He played in 16 games for the Ravens as a rookie, starting in three. And in 2019, he played in five games and started in three.  The young man some scouts claimed never belonged in the NFL, had already started six games for the Baltimore Ravens.

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Young was undervalued in the 2018 NFL Draft because he was a bit of a hybrid defender.  He was too big and slow to be a cornerback. He was too slow and muscular to be a safety. And he was judged to be too small and light to be an effective NFL linebacker. So many teams had no clue how to grade him, to project him onto the NFL.  Lucky for him, the Baltimore Ravens knew just how to use him.

Now, the LA Rams have a chance to do so.

Young is a fireball of passion on defense. He hits hard and often.  But he is not reckless in dolling out punishment. In fact, he is a controlled force of emotion, absorbing the crowd passion and converting it into football play. He can slide into pass coverage with tight ends and running backs, almost at the level of a slot cornerback. He can play in the box more effectively than safety but does not surrender as much in pass coverage as a linebacker. He is better than a suitable successor to Cory Littleton at inside linebacker. In fact, over a couple of years, he may outperform his predecessor.