Pro Football Rumors
Over the course of his three seasons with the Rams, Byron Young has established himself as an impactful pass rushing presence. 2026 marks the final year of his rookie contract, however, and the possibility of a lucrative signing elsewhere looms.
Young immediately took on a full-time starting role as a rookie, posting eight sacks along the way. Another strong campaign followed, helping make him one of several productive members of Los Angeles’ 2023 draft class. Last season, Young took another step forward with 12 sacks and 40 QB pressures.
Those figures helped result in a Pro Bowl nod, but they have raised expectations for 2026. Another healthy and productive outing would help a Rams defensive front which is positioned to be among the league’s best, although it would increase the chances of a departure. Indeed, Nate Atkins of The Athletic predicts it is “very unlikely” Los Angeles will manage to retain Young on a second contract.
The Rams made another win-now move on defense when they traded for Myles Garrett. Acquiring the future Hall of Famer required parting with fellow pass rusher Jared Verse, but Young’s presence for at least one more year will ensure a large degree of familiarity and continuity along the team’s defensive front. The interior of that unit – with or without Aaron Donald – will face high expectations thanks in large part to Kobie Turner. He too is a 2023 draftee in line for a sizable raise via a long-term deal with Los Angeles.
Affording Turner and another member of the ’23 class such as wideout Puka Nacua will be challenging given the short-term financial commitments already on the books. The Rams’ win-now approach will no doubt result in a number of notable departures over the next few years regarding in-house contributors. Atkins notes that Young, 28, is the best positioned player to land a big-money contract next spring in that regard (especially since it will likely come from another team).
Garrett’s $40MM-per-year deal was restructured shortly after arrival in Los Angeles, and it runs through 2030. The Rams do not have any other EDGE contracts averaging more than $1.6MM annually as things stand, but their other pending signings could very well result in Young’s payday sending him to a new home.
