Rams' new blueprint leaves no reason to evade Byron Young extension

There is a disconnect between what the Los Angeles Rams are likely to do and what some expect them to. No topic puts that disparity on full display like the imminent extension of young edge rusher Byron Young. Recently, speculation has run rampant concerning whether a parting of ways is on the horizon.

Don't bet on it.

Two factors came into play as soon as the team traded a king's ransom to acquire Myles Garrett. The first was obvious. If Los Angeles values a pass rusher that significantly, why would the team willingly part ways with a young and elite one, like Young, without compensation? That's a bizarre take.

Secondly, and more subtly, the Rams already have a contractual blueprint to ensure Young remains on the team for years to come.

They just reworked Garrett's contract to impact the salary cap with barely a ripple for the next two seasons. With Byron Young entering the last year of his rookie contract, general manager Les Snead would be wise to stipulate similar terms in Young's extension.

Nothing should prevent Rams from extending Byron Young

The whole narrative must come to a screeching halt. Some proposed Young as the requisite trade chip to make the Garrett deal happen. The Browns insisted on Verse, and the Rams acquiesced. Now, despite eliminating the need to extend Verse and adding Garrett on a stunningly team-friendly deal, they supposedly cannot afford to keep Young.

On the contrary, Los Angeles can ill afford not to extend him.

The Rams know what the value an elite pass rusher brings. When the team attempted to pry edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers in 2022, Carolina boldly rejected an offer of two first-round draft picks. Rather than pout, Snead turned around and drafted Young. Over the past three years, Young has been just as effective as Burns, but at a fraction of the cost.

So now, when push comes to shove as Young enters his prime, the Rams would abandon a Burns equivalent? That sounds like talking for the sake of talk. Make it make sense.

Young is more than dependable. He has shown steady improvement after already beating expectations as a rookie. Paired with Garrett, he is almost certainly due to catapult to the top of the pass-rushing leaderboards.

He is also the epitome of what the Rams look for in defensive stars. Neither brash nor loud, he does his talking on the football field. He does it with elite precision and blazing speed. Young's production has increased each season, while his workload remained constant.

The Rams sacrificed significant assets for Garrett. They tried to do the same for Burns. It's time to read the room correctly. Snead is not seeking to move on from Young. He values top-tier pass rushers too much to simply let his young star walk away. If anything, he's probably racking his brain for the most cost-effective way to lock him up for the long haul.

Thanks to Garrett's contract blueprint, he now has a formula for doing exactly that.

As always, thanks for reading.

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