Byron Young continues to prove doubters wrong (and he has the receipts)

The Los Angeles Rams defensive front is one of the NFL's best. Powered by a corral of young and passionate stallions, the team is getting the most bang in the NFL for the least buck. It's the ultimate general manager dream scenario, paying less to get so much more.

One of the stars leading this defense to unexpected heights is outside linebacker Byron Young.

Still playing on a rookie contract that will net him just $5.5 million over four seasons, Young continues to outplay other rookies from the class of 2023 and is solidly competing with seasoned veterans on the edge this season. He is a guy who can flip a switch and take over in a game, just as he did in Week 6.

This was something that he predicted long before the season began:

It's one thing to have lofty goals. It's another thing altogether to state those goals long before the season begins, and then go out and deliver above expectations.

He set his sights on the Super Bowl, All-Pro nods, and Pro Bowl selections, and despite generating no more than eight quarterback sacks in a single season, Young set his sights on double-digit sacks for 2025.

In six games, he has already accumulated 7.5 sacks, second most in the league through six weeks.

Byron Young is a perfect complement to Rams' pass rush

Young's front-seven mate, Jared Verse is pure power, with a bull rush that even veteran offensive tackles would prefer not to face. Young, meanwhile, is pure speed. He ran a 4.43-second time in his 40-yard dash, a blazing speed for an edge rusher. To place that into perspective, he is faster than any running back on the roster today. If Verse is the anvil, Young is the hammer. It's a utopian combo of power and speed, and one that has caused fits to offensive coordinators and quarterbacks.

In just six games, the pair has combined for 10.5 quarterback sacks, 65 tackles, and 15 tackles for a loss. But if this season is anything like last year, these two are just getting warmed up.

Last season, their first year teaming up and playing in defensive coordinator Chris Shula's scheme, the pair combined for 12 quarterback sacks, 23 tackles for a loss, and 128 tackles. They are on pace to eclipse that performance this season.

Young is not the brash trash-talking sidekick to Verse. He lets his performance do much of his talking. Perhaps that is why his bold predictions stand out so boldly? He seldom boasts. Instead, he's delivering right on cue.

Will the third-year veteran earn All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors this season? That remains to be seen. He certainly appears to be on track, though. If the second two-thirds of the season are anything like is first third, he will be lauded just as he predicted.

As always, thanks for reading.