One of the Los Angeles Rams' biggest strengths is the young defense. Though losing Aaron Donald impacted the team's pass rush, Braden Fiske, Jared Verse, and Byron Young stepped up in a big way.
Verse's impact on the field has been well-established, and even led to former Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Terron Armstead singling him out when he stated he would be happy never seeing the young pass rusher on the field again.
Verse also secured the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honor with 66 total tackles, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Simply put, he was a wrecking ball.
Verse's emergence also cast a little bit of a shadow on fellow pass rusher Young. Young had 7.5 sacks in 2024, to go along with the eight sacks he got in 2023. In total, Young has achieved 15.5 sacks through two seasons and is now being predicted to be a major impact player in 2025.
"The 2023 third-round pick has had two strong seasons, amassing 15.5 sacks in his NFL career. But despite that success, outside linebackers coach Joe Coniglio said he has noticed how 'intentional' Young has been going into his third season. Coniglio said he challenged Young to continue to work on his 'consistency,' because 'when he's at his best, it's a lot of fun to watch.'
'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," Sarah Bishop writes.
Young is one of the most dynamic players on this young Rams defense, and 2025 could be his best year yet. With Joe Coniglio challenging the young linebacker to take the next step, the NFL world might have to deal with a strong pass rush from both Young and Verse working more in tandem.
Both will need to be covered, and if Fiske is also wreaking havoc on offensive linemen, expect Young to be able to break through even more. Securing 7.5 sacks is nothing to scoff at, and he could reach double-digit sacks in 2025.
If Bishop's prediction rings true, this Rams defense is going to cause problems for every opponent. As stated, having a trio of young defenders in Young, Fiske, and Verse, this defense is shaping up to be one of the best in the NFL.
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