After amazing rookie seasons, this Rams trio prepares for a sophomore surge

The unheralded DROY season

Even before the 2023 season ended, Kobie Turner was redefining the role of nose tackle. Long thought to require a huge guy who could take on two offensive linemen successfully, Turner proved to be a type of defensive lineman who could split double teams so quickly that he could stuff the runner or bring down opposing quarterbacks almost instantly.

His final numbers in 2023 were 9.0 quarterback sacks, 57 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, 16 quarterback hits, and 20 quarterback pressures. His numbers were so outstanding that he tied the rookie sack numbers of teammate All-Pro DT Aaron Donald. Not only did he have an outstanding rookie season, leading the team in QB sacks, but he outperformed DROY Will Anderson of the Houston Texans. While his better season was ignored by voters for rookie honors, he wasn't the only Rams rookie to be snubbed by annual honors.

Turner is not a one-hit wonder. Much like his teammate Byron Young, Turner proved that his passion for football incentivized him to perform better than expected, and to accelerate his learning curve to the point where he was one of the top nose tackles in the NFL in just his rookie season.

NFL expert analyst and insider Brian Baldinger has been incredibly complimentary of Kobie Turner and has already placed the entire NFL on notice over Turner's second season. In his second season in the Horns, Aaron Donald put up 11.0 quarterback sacks and 69 tackles. He also put up 37 quarterback pressures. While I don't know that the Conductor can match those QB pressure numbers, he is certainly within striking distance of the sack and tackle numbers.

With a little luck and a lot of effort, Kobie Turner could surpass those numbers.