The Los Angeles Rams boast star power, but one of their unheralded starters is getting his moment. Rams outside linebacker Byron Young plays opposite 2024 No. 19 overall pick and Defensive Rookie of the Year, Jared Verse, who draws plenty of attention.
As a third-round pick in 2023, Young entered the league with less recognition than his younger teammate.
However, at least after the first month of the 2025 season, Young is the one getting recognition.
Rams OLB Byron Young Earns Defensive Player of the Month
GettyByron Young #0 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts in the game against the Tennessee Titans.
“Clocked it all month [pinching hand emoji],” the Rams posted about Young winning NFC Defensive Player of the Month on X on October 2, referencing the trending gesture the LB does.
Young was the No. 77 overall pick by the Rams in the 2023 draft, and he finished eighth in DROY voting. The 27-year-old has 23 total tackles and an NFL-leading 5.0 sacks for the Rams through four weeks.
“BY is on a whole ‘nother level,” the Rams said in another post, along with a highlight reel of Young’s top plays so far.
He also has 7 tackles for loss, 7 quarterback hits, and forced 1 fumble this season.
Jared Verse Praises Byron Young
GettyByron Young #0 and Jared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrate against the Houston Texans.
Young has drawn strong comments from his teammates, like Verse. The second-year standout downplayed the surprise factor of the veteran’s performance so far this season.
“B.Y. has always been a confident guy, has always been a dawg. But when you see the work that he’s put in – and for some reason, pilates is his magic power. He’s dominant in every aspect. He’s leading the league in sacks. And as much as he hates for me to mention it, that’s just a product of the work he’s put in. I’ve seen what he’s been doing in the offseason, and he deserves every bit,” Verse told reporters on September 30.
“ I don’t even think he’s opened the gate to what he’s able to do.”
Young has 146 combined stops, 39 QB hits, 27 TFLs, 4 forced fumbles, 1 recovery, and 1 pass deflection to go with 20.5 career sacks.
His previous career high for sacks was 8.0 in 2023, and he had 7.5 sacks in 2024. Young is tracking to shatter that, which could force the Rams to open up the checkbook to retain him. He will be extension-eligible next offseason.
Rams Facing Pro Bowler in 49ers QB Mac Jones
GettyMac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers looks on before the game against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Rams are off to a 3-1 start with the San Francisco 49ers looming on “Thursday Night Football.” If he keeps up his pace, Young will prove to be a significant bargain for the Rams in Year 3 of his four-year, $5.5 million rookie-scale contract.
Young and the Rams are taking the 49ers with Mac Jones starting in place of Brock Purdy. The 49ers have allowed six sacks entering the contest.
That has them tied for the fourth-fewest in the league through four weeks.
Jones is also a former Pro Bowler with 51 career starts under his belt. Moreover, his 4.82 career sack rate is lower than Purdy’s (5.9%), per Pro Football Reference. Young and the Rams cannot let up simply because their opponent is without its starting QB under center for the contest.
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