Rams defense has a new breakout star (and it’s not the one fans expected)

The Los Angeles Rams have a pretty potent defensive front. This is a group tied for second in the NFL with eight sacks. It ranks fourth in total yards allowed, giving up just 258.5 per game. Against the run, it’s sitting 18th with 111.5 rushing yards allowed. And it’s allowing only 147.0 passing yards per game, fourth-best in the league. Best of all, this defense is tied for second in points allowed at just 14.0 per game. The only other teams in that tier, the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans, haven't played their second game yet.

Fans can thank defensive coordinator Chris Shula. Rather than spotlight individual stars, Shula has the entire unit swarming to the football, tackling cleanly, and setting each other up to make plays and create turnovers. Every player on that side of the ball deserves respect. But one defender is already emerging, and it’s not the one you might expect.

Outside linebacker Byron Young is only in his third NFL season, but he’s off to the hottest start of his career. Through just two games, he’s the only Rams defender with multiple sacks, one of four players with double-digit tackles, and one of just two to force a fumble. And check out the grade he just earned from Pro Football Focus below:

Byron Young is standing out in a Rams defense full of young stars

Standing out in this defense is no small feat. He’s surrounded by guys like Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Jared Verse, and even Nate Landman, and yet, Young has managed to separate himself. He’s not just a heat-seeking missile off the edge anymore. He’s evolving into one of the league’s most complete edge rushers.

He does it all. He can set the edge, rush the passer, stop the run, and even drop into coverage. But it’s his opportunistic pass rush that’s drawing the most attention early on. That’s saying something, considering this defense includes the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year and the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week in Week 1. But Young isn’t bothered by the spotlight. He thrives in competition.

Now in Year 3 of his rookie contract, his play resembles that of a veteran in a contract year. And with the price of competent pass rushers constantly rising, the Rams front office may want to consider locking him up sooner rather than later.

Can he keep this up? If so, he’s on pace for 26 sacks and 119 tackles this season. That would be historic. For perspective, the most sacks recorded by any NFL player since Sean McVay became head coach was T.J. Watt’s 22.5 in 2021.

While nobody expects Young to threaten that total, nobody expected him to shoot out of the gates so furiously this season either. This defense is vastly improved over where it was at this time one year ago. And one of the reasons is the red-hot start to 2025 that Byron Young is getting.

As always, thanks for reading.

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