Byron Young disrespect continues (and Rams fans deserve to be furious)

The Los Angeles Rams defense is earning respect one game at a time. This is only the second season for defensive coordinator Chris Shula, but his vision is forming now into gritty stops and physical play. After the secondary struggled in Week 5, it bounced back to put up a stellar showing in Week 6. But even their motivated performance needed help from LA's relentless pass rush.

In 2025, pass-rushers are led by outside linebacker Byron Young.

Not everyone sees it that way, though. Pro Football Focus loves what it sees from some LA players, but when it comes to the league's runner-up in sacks after six games, it turned a blind eye.

You may wonder how that can be possible. Fans already know the answer to that one. It's par for the course.

Yes, there is a bias in terms of highest honors and accolades handed out in the NFL. Despite outstanding play in his rookie season, the former Tennessee Volunteers pass-rusher has yet to be acknowledged for his dominating style of play. Young was a diamond in the rough whom draft analysts embarrassingly failed to recognize as an elite talent.

Those same analysts also have a say in who gets awards, so it's no surprise that Young has failed to receive the respect rightfully due him.

Byron Young keeps getting better despite the lack of fanfare

This is nothing new. As early as his rookie season, Young has faced the draft-position bias that seldom is mentioned in NFL circles. He was chosen in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, but as the numbers show below, he outperformed every rookie edge rusher from his draft class.

But when awards were handed out? Crickets.

• 2023 - 3rd overall - Will Anderson Jr. - 45 tackles - 7.0 sacks
• 2023 - 7th overall - Tyree Wilson - 29 tackles - 3.5 sacks
• 2023 - 15th overall - Will McDonald IV -14 tackles - 3.0 sacks
• 2023 - 77th overall - Byron Young - 61 tackles - 8.0 sacks

Let's look at this from another angle. Los Angeles attempted to trade a king's ransom to the Carolina Panthers for edge rusher Brian Burns in 2022. Ignoring trade compensation, Burns will have earned $50 million since 2023 through 2025. And he has recorded 151 tackles, 47 quarterback hits and 23.5 sacks through Week 6 of the 2025 season. He is due to take home $107 million over the next three seasons.

Young is a bit more budget friendly. He has earned just $3.7 million since 2023. Better still, he has recorded 160 tackles, 47 quarterback hits and 23.0 sacks through Week 6. The Rams spent one third-round pick to get Young after offering multiple picks, including two first-rounders, that were declined by Carolina.

Young is due to earn $1.8 million in 2026.

The up-and-coming defensive star is on fire this season, and nobody's talking about him. Young has registered a sack in his last eight consecutive games and already has two multi-sack games on the year. He is already 27th on the Rams' all-time sack leaders list and should comfortably make in into the top 20 by the end of the season.

Curiously, he is only playing in his third year.

Imagine the hullabaloo if he had been selected among the top 10 in the 2023 draft. Headlines would be screaming his praises. But that won't happen for the 77th overall selection. He keeps on doing his thing, though. The organization knows his value. So, too, do the fans. They have every right to be furious about the lack of attention and respect shown to their start edge rusher.

After they finish celebrating another of his sacks, that is.

As always, thanks for reading,

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