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The Los Angeles Rams are projected to have an influx of first or second-year players starting on defense, and rookie Byron Young should certainly see meaningful snaps in 2023. Following the Rams’ first practice in mandatory minicamp, Sean McVay heaped praise on the rookie edge rusher out of Tennessee.
“He’s doing a good job. We’re throwing a lot at him,” McVay said. “I think (OLBs coach) Joe Coniglio has done an outstanding job in general, really with a lot of those rookies. Whether it’s Byron, Ochaun (Mathis), you look at Nick (Hampton) – three rookie draft picks from the outside linebacker spot. But Byron, incredible athleticism. He looks like he’s chiseled out of granite out here. But he plays with a relentless motor. He’s conscientious, he’s coachable as hell. And I think he’s really going to only continue to get better. I like what I’ve seen, really from all three of those young guys. I mentioned Kobie (Turner) as a bright spot on the interior parts of the line, but I think all of those guys have done a great job.”
The Rams used the 77th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft on Young. Despite turning 25 years old back in March, Young had two productive seasons at Tennessee, totaling 83 tackles, 23.5 tackles for loss, and 12.5 sacks in college.
Earlier this offseason, the Rams released veteran Leonard Floyd and he recently signed with the Buffalo Bills. With Floyd no longer in the mix, the Rams have three intriguing rookies at the edge rusher position during minicamp.
Young isn’t going to be handed a starting job as he’ll have to compete with fellow rookies Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis, along with Michael Hoecht, Daniel Hardy and Kier Thomas. That being said, Young is certainly catching the eye of McVay in practices thus far.
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