It’s been a special year for the Los Angeles Rams’ rookie class, led by Kobie Turner, Byron Young, Puka Nacua and Steve Avila. They’ve all been key contributors in Year 1, with Turner and Young being candidates to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, and Nacua in contention for the award on the offensive side of the ball.
Turner and Young have been the best rookie pass-rushing tandem in the NFL this season, recording nine and eight sacks, respectively. While both would be good choices for Defensive Rookie of the Year, Young has no doubt about who should win the award.
In an interview with Rams Wire on behalf of Dollar General, where he worked as an assistant manager before playing football at Tennessee, Young endorsed Turner by saying there’s “no doubt” he should win it over himself and every other candidate, including frontrunners, Jalen Carter and Will Anderson Jr.
Young also feels that he and Turner both got overlooked this year as third-round picks compared to first-rounders like Carter and Anderson.
“For sure. I think we’re definitely overlooked,” Young said. “Kobie Turner should definitely win Defensive Rookie of the Year. No doubt. But that’s how it goes sometimes, you know, popularity. That’s kind of how it is. Feel like we’re both being overlooked all season. Kobie Turner, hands down, should win it. The guy, every day coming into work. You see him during games. I’m talking about, he’s a closer. He closed the game out. That’s just what he does. Just watching him do it, I’m proud of him. Hopefully the right person gets the award: Kobie Turner. I’m praying they make the right decision.”
A lot of the attention has been on Turner in recent weeks, but Young has had an awesome rookie year himself. He has eight sacks, eight tackles for a loss, 19 QB hits and 61 total tackles – impressive numbers, particularly for a third-round rookie. He also won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Week for his performance against the Cardinals in Week 6 when he had a sack and forced fumble.
He may not win Defensive Rookie of the Year this season, but the Rams certainly landed a stud in Round 3 of the draft.