3 LA Rams players snubbed by PFF’s Top 25 under 25 players list

The LA Rams have been one of the youngest teams for some time. But one area where the team is not getting accolades, at least in terms of breakout NFL stars, is in the category of players who are under 25 years of age. At least, that is what the latest Top 25 under 25 players listing of Pro Football Focus would lead you to believe.

Sometimes writing an article about the best players skews towards the players from the same team. In any case, author Trevor Sikkema seemed to be very generous to players from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals.  Some were deserving. Some? Well, there is room to debate.

Of course, there is always room to debate, isn’t there?  The LA Rams, the defending NFL Champions, certainly had their share of contributing performances from players who are under 25 years of age. Like who? Well, we have three LA Rams players who certain deserved some consideration:

Inside linebacker Ernest Jones

Rookie ILB Ernest Jones played in 15 games and started seven, last year. In that time, he put up 61 tackles, one quarterback sack, one tackle for a loss, two interceptions, and four passes defended. He played in two playoff games and started one. In the playoffs, he had nine tackles, three quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss, one quarterback sack, and one pass defensed.

Many of the players who were named on the list were described as being thrust into a starting role. Well, that is exactly what transpired for Jones when the Rams traded the previous starting inside linebacker, Kenny Young, and started Jones cold turkey.  Perhaps playing in a Super Bowl should not always carry extra credit. But in the case of Ernest Jones? I certainly think that it should.

Running back Darrell Henderson

While RB Darrell Henderson Jr. was not always able to answer the bell when he did he is an explosive and vital contributor to the LA Rams offense. In 2021, he carried the ball 149 times for 688 yards and five touchdowns and caught the ball 29 times for another 176 yards and three touchdowns. That sums up to 864 yards and eight touchdowns.

Because he has just finished his third season, it is not always obvious that Henderson is under 25 years of age. While he has been a bit difficult to track in terms of which games Henderson would be healthy enough to play, the PFF ranking was not concerned with the availability of other players.  Henderson by all accounts put up enough in 2021 to be named on this list.

Defensive back Jordan Fuller

The fact that defensive back Jordan Fuller was selected with the 199th selection of the 2020 NFL Draft has made recognition for his contributions a bit more difficult to come by. But who is kidding whom? In 2021, Fuller played and started 16 games for the LA Rams. In those appearances, he chalked up 113 tackles (team leader), one interception, and four pass defenses. He also called the defensive plays, a pretty significant feat for a young man in his second year of playing (and starting) in the NFL.

Fuller is a typical Rams player. He doesn’t seek the spotlight. Rather, he simply seeks ways to make the play. He must have been effective, because his contribution enabled the LA Rams to earn a playoff berth, and in doing so, run the table on the way to winning Super Bowl LVI.

Do the Rams play too far west to get recognition?  Or was this just a one-off miss?