The Los Angeles Rams have a lot of potential heading into 2025. While the offense is primed for another strong season with Matthew Stafford at the helm, the core skill position players of Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams should give the team another major boost.
However, the defense is where the greatest potential for development lies. The young defensive line finished the 2024 season strong and now enters 2025 with more momentum than years past.
One player has shone this offseason, though, according to ESPN’s Sarah Barshop: Edge rusher Byron Young. Barshop picked Young as the Rams’ “biggest surprise” ahead of the 2025 season because of the difference Rams’ outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio noticed in Young between his second and third seasons.
Coniglio told Barshop that he’s noticed Young is more “intentional” this season and that he’s challenged the edge rusher to be more consistent on the field.
“I think he’s going to take another step forward in regards to his game, his ability to affect games, his ability to disrupt offenses and be the player that he’s capable of being,” Coniglio said.
Young, a third-rounder out of Tennessee in 2023, tallied 7.5 sacks in 2024, a half-sack less than his rookie season. He’s combined for 20 tackles for a loss and 32 quarterback hits in his career as well.
He will continue to develop alongside the youthful line of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner as well as the new additions of veteran defensive tackle Poona Ford and rookies Josaiah Stewart and Ty Hamilton.
