This LA Rams rookie is the steal of the 2023 NFL Draft, and more

Dominating as a pass rusher as a rookie in the NFL is not an easy matter. The challenge of the role is extremely complex, as each new week there is a new opponent, a new quarterback, a new set of plays and formations, and perhaps most of all, a new blocking strategy.

While LA Rams fans have been blessed with the presence of All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and 'the Aaron Donald effect,' his presence cannot allow fans to become numb or disinterested in the stellar potential of players who find a way to get after the quarterback.

Rushing the passer is simply not an easy task, and is a role that requires time to perfect. That is why the LA Rams have a great opportunity with rookie OLB Byron Young. He is not perfect, but he is ahead of his timeline in terms of bringing the heat and pain to opposing quarterbacks:

Got that DAWG in him

Sometimes, it's just too good to be true. But that is not the case for LA Rams rookie outside line backer Byron Young. He is not simply laying in wait behind the shadow of Rams DT Aaron Donald. This guy can play. He has all of the skillsets and awareness to succeed at the position. All he needs now is bonafide NFL experience, and he is adding to his reservoir of knowledge with each additional game.

Curiously, not all fans are sold on the young pass rusher. Some believe that he is only a product of playing alongside Aaron Donald. Others try to compare his rookie numbers to those of the best veterans in the NFL. To truly appreciate what a diamond Byron Young is, we have to place him against similar performances. So let's take a look at how he stacks up to the best prospects drafted at pass rusher since LA Rams HC Sean McVay was hired in 2017 to coach the Rams:

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Draft year - overall selection - Player - Rookie tackles - Rookie QB sacks

To truly understand just how special of a rookie season that LA Rams outside linebacker Byron Young is creating, let's get a bit of perspective. To do that, I've pulled the Top-3 pass rushers drafted in each of the NFL Drafts since the Rams hired HC Sean McVay.

That survey pulled seven consecutive NFL Drafts, and 21 players (not including Byron Young) in all. Then, having the names of 21 top NFL rookie pass rushers, I'd pulled their rookie season statistics to compare apples to apples. In short, just how well or poorly does Byron Young compare to rookies seasons of the best NFL prospects?

See for yourself:

2017 - 1st overall - Myles Garrett - 31 tackles - 7.0 QB sacks
2017 - 3rd overall - Solomon Thomas - 41 tackles - 3.0 QB sacks
2017 - 13th overall - Hasson Reddick - 36 tackles - 2.5 QB sacks

2018 - 5th overall - Bradley Chubb - 60 tackles - 12.0 QB sacks
2018 - 14th overall - Marcus Davenport - 22 tackles - 4.5 QB sacks
2018 - 22nd overall - Rashaan Evans - 53 tackles - 0.0 QB sacks

2019 - 2nd overall - Nick Bosa - 47 tackles - 9.0 QB sacks
2019 - 4th overall - Clelin Ferrell - 38 tackles - 4.5 QB sacks
2019 - 7th overall - Josh Allen - 44 tackles - 10.5 QB sacks

2020 - 2nd overall - Chase Young - 44 tackles - 7.5 QB sacks
2020 - 20th overall - K'Lavon Chaisson - 19 tackles - 1.0 QB sacks
2020 - 38th overall - Yetur Gross-Matos - 24 tackles - 2.5 QB sacks

2021 - 18th overall - Jaelan Phillips - 42 tackles - 8.5 QB sacks
2021 - 21st overall - Kwity Paye - 32 tackles - 4.0 QB sacks
2021 - 30th overall - Greg Rousseau - 50 tackles - 4.0 QB sacks

2022 - 1st overall - Travon Walker - 49 tackles - 3.5 QB sacks
2022 - 2nd overall - Aidan Hutchinson - 52 tackles - 9.5 QB sacks
2022 - 5th overall - Kayvon Thibodeaux - 49 tackles - 4.0 QB sacks

2023 * - 3rd overall - Will Anderson Jr. - 30 tackles - 2.0 QB sacks
2023 * - 7th overall - Tyree Wilson - 17 tackles - 1.5 QB sacks
2023 * - 15th overall - Will McDonald IV - 3 tackles - 0.5 QB sacks

2023 * - 77th overall - Byron Young - 39 tackles - 5.0 QB sacks
2023 Projected - 77th overall - Byron Young - 75 tackles - 10,0 QB sacks

Rams got an incredible steal in OLB Byron Young

Now, let's interpret the data.

2023 * indicates a partial season. Projection LA Rams OLB Byron Young stats over a full season, you get 75 tackles and 10.0 QB sacks. In short, the early performance of Rams rookie pass rusher Byron Young is tracking most closely to the Denver Broncos rookie season of star pass rusher Bradley Chubb.

If you recall, Chubb broke into the NFL playing on the opposite side of veteran pass rusher Von Miller, and likely benefitted a great deal from the majority of attention directed away from him in that incredible rookie season. In just nine games and eight starts, Byron Young's numbers already dwarf many of the top-selected pass rushers of the past seven years. If you ended his season today, Young would rank 8 out of 22 against the top selected pass rushers of the past seven NFL Drafts.

Just to refresh everyone's memory, LA Rams OLB Byron Young was selected in Round 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 77th overall pick. He is red hot right now, and getting better all the time.

OLB Byron Young is the best pass rusher in the rookie class of 2023

Even optimistic projections for a Round 3 rookie pass rusher peaked at 4.0 quarterback sacks and 35 tackles. Young has blown past that with half of the 2023 NFL season left to go. Even against the best NFL veteran pass rushers, Young is holding his own. He is currently tied for the 26th most proficient pass rusher in all of the NFL, and as a rookie

The reason that the NFL does not plaster Byron Young's face and name across the headlines is the simple fact that he was not chosen on Day 1. If Will Anderson Jr. or Tyree Wilson boasted Young's numbers, their names would be discussed weekly for the NFL DROY honors.

2023 was about the journey for LA Rams fans, and the stars who would emerge and shine for the team along the way. Forget the latest wave of data that suggests that Rams OLB Byron Young cannot defeat double teams. No rookie pass rusher excels at that skill in their first NFL season. The bottom line that fans should focus on is: Can Byron Young get to the quarterback?

The answer to that question is yes, better than any other rookie in the rookie class of 2023. When he no long can, that is when you look at other data points to understand why.