Tag: Kobie Turner

Rams’ 2023 rookie class ranked 3rd by NFL.com, which is still too low

The Rams’ 2023 rookie class was ranked third in the NFL, but even that’s too low

The Los Angeles Rams needed an impactful rookie class in 2023 after kicking off their roster rebuild and they hit a home run. Despite not having a first-round pick, the Rams came away with a draft class that helped them secure a wild-card spot and nearly upset the Lions in the first round of the playoffs.

Puka Nacua had the best rookie season ever by a wide receiver, setting multiple records, while Kobie Turner led all rookies with nine sacks – as a defensive tackle, no less. Fellow third-round pick Byron Young finished second among all rookies with eight sacks, too. And that’s without even mentioning their top pick, Steve Avila, who didn’t miss a single snap all year.

NFL.com ranked every draft class from 2023 and shockingly, the Rams weren’t first or second. They were ranked third, but even that’s too low. The Texans earned the top spot and the Steelers were ranked second.

The Rams haven’t had a first-round pick since they took Jared Goff first overall in the 2016 NFL Draft, but general manager Les Snead scored a highly productive haul with his 2023 rookie class, which was studded with multiple first-year standouts.

It’s understandable that the Texans would be ranked ahead of the Rams after C.J. Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. won Rookie of the Year awards. However, it’s really hard to make the case that the Steelers’ rookie class was better than the Rams’.

From top to bottom, the Rams had five rookies who played a pivotal role for them. Davis Allen did a nice job filling in at tight end when Tyler Higbee was injured, too. How each class turns out in the next three or four years remains to be seen, but just based on rookie impact, the Rams had the better draft.

Voting tally for Defensive Rookie of the Year proves Kobie Turner’s draft slot hurt his chances

Despite leading all rookies with 9 sacks, 23 of the 50 voters didn’t even have Kobie Turner on their Defensive Rookie of the Year ballots

The NFL’s annual awards are completely subjective, with a panel of 50 voters casting ballots for each of the Associated Press’ honors. At times, the selections are unanimous, but that’s rare because more often than not, there are several deserving candidates for each award.

While we never find out what each voter’s ballot looks like, the Associated Press does release voting tallies for every award. And looking at the Defensive Rookie of the Year voting results, it’s abundantly clear that voters favored Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter over Kobie Turner because they were first-round picks.

According to the AP, Turner finished third with a total of 95 points, behind Anderson (151) and Carter (122). He received 14 first-place votes just like Carter, and he was just two first-place votes shy of Anderson’s total, but what crushed Turner’s odds was the fact that of the 50 voters, 23 of them didn’t have him on their ballot at all (h/t ProFootballTalk)

That’s ludicrous.

How is it possible that nearly half of the voters didn’t even have Turner on their radar as a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate? You’re telling me he wasn’t even deserving of a third-place vote?

He led all rookies with nine sacks! Either 23 voters saw that and chose to ignore it, or they had no idea who Turner was because he was drafted in the third round, unlike Anderson and Carter. There’s no easy solution for this problem and no matter how award-winners are chosen, there will be controversy, but it’s outrageous that 23 of 50 voters didn’t even consider the rookie sacks leader for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Kobie Turner has 3-word message after losing Defensive Rookie of the Year race

“Back to work”

Kobie Turner led all NFL rookies in sacks last season and even tied Aaron Donald’s franchise record for the most sacks in a player’s first season, but his remarkable performance in 2023 wasn’t enough to win him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. In fact, he finished third in the race behind Will Anderson Jr., who won the award, and Jalen Carter.

Statistically, Turner had the best case of any defensive rookie, but voters gave the Texans the sweep in the Rookie of the Year department by also crowning C.J. Stroud over Puka Nacua.

After the award was handed out to Anderson, Turner shared a three-word message on social media: “Back to work.”

That’s the type of reaction Aaron Donald would have, and it’s what’s going to make Turner an even better player in 2024. With a full season under his belt, expect him to come back even stronger next year and push for his first Pro Bowl selection.

Will Anderson Jr. beats out Kobie Turner for Defensive Rookie of the Year

Kobie Turner’s Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign came up just short as Will Anderson Jr. won the award on Thursday night

The race for 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year came down to three strong candidates: Kobie Turner, Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter. Turner, the Rams’ standout rookie, put together a fantastic season and led all first-year players with nine sacks, but he came up just short in his pursuit of the coveted award.

At the NFL Honors show on Thursday night, Anderson was crowned the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Texans edge rusher finished with seven sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for a loss this season, making an immediate impact as the No. 3 overall pick in Houston.

Turner was a third-round pick but still managed to have one of the best rookie seasons ever by a defensive tackle. He had 16 quarterback hits and eight tackles for a loss to go along with nine sacks, which tied Aaron Donald for the most by a rookie in Rams history.

Carter, the ninth overall pick, was very impactful for the Eagles this season, recording six sacks, nine quarterback hits and eight tackles for a loss in 16 games played. He also recovered a fumble and returned it 42 yards for a touchdown against the Cowboys in December.

Turner finished third in the race, but it was incredibly close as he received 14 first-place votes.

The Rams hit a home run with Turner and though he made a remarkably strong case to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, he’ll have a chance to build on that impressive season when he returns as a starter in 2024.

Puka Nacua goes from Round 5 to top 5 in ESPN’s 2023 re-draft

Puka Nacua went in the top 5 of ESPN’s 2023 re-draft, while Kobie Turner and Byron Young both landed with a rival up north

Not only was Puka Nacua one of the best rookies in the NFL this past season, but he was unquestionably the biggest steal so far. As a fifth-round pick, he set rookie records for the most receiving yards and receptions in a season, putting himself squarely in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year with C.J. Stroud of the Texans.

In hindsight, it’s hard to believe every team passed on him multiple times in the draft, including the Rams, before he was selected with the final pick in the fifth round. If teams were to draft players from the 2023 class now after seeing what they did during their rookie season, where would Nacua land?

ESPN tried to answer that question with a 2023 re-draft and Nacua went from Round 5 to top 5, landing at No. 4 overall to the Colts.

The Colts’ quarterback need would have remained glaring had the picks played out this way, but Indianapolis was never nearly as high on Will Levis as some believed. Bryce Young is worth considering, but Nacua is more of a sure thing. He would give the Colts an elite skill player to pair with their eventual franchise quarterback — whenever they finally land one. Nacua broke the NFL’s single-season rookie record for receiving yards (1,486) and receptions (105). — Stephen Holder

The only players drafted ahead of Nacua in this experiment were Stroud, Anthony Richardson and Will Anderson Jr. Stroud and Anderson were awesome as rookies, and Richardson showed potential before suffering a season-ending injury.

Elsewhere in the draft, fellow Rams rookie Kobie Turner landed with the rival Seahawks at No. 20 overall. The Rams selected him 89th overall in the third round, so that’s quite the jump for him, too.

Passing on Smith-Njigba is hard, but Seattle’s run defense was awful — even after trading for defensive end Leonard Williams in October. In this scenario, Seattle would beef up its D-line with Turner, who led all rookies in sacks (nine) and run stop win rate (38%, 20th among all linemen). And it likely would have prevented the Seahawks from having to give up a second-round pick for Williams at midseason. — Brady Henderson

To make matters even worse, the Seahawks also land another Rams rookie: Byron Young. They select him at No. 52 overall, 25 picks before he actually went in the 2023 draft. Imagine seeing Turner and Young both in a Seahawks uniform now? Gross.

As for the Rams, they went with the status quo and took Steve Avila at No. 36 overall, just as they did in April. It was a slam-dunk pick and there’s no reason for them to change that now.

Puka Nacua, Kobie Turner named finalists for AP Rookie of the Year awards

Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner are both finalists for AP Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards

Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner were named finalists for the AP Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards on Thursday, though that shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone. They were two of the best rookies in the league this season and are squarely in the running for their respective awards.

Nacua is battling C.J. Stroud of the Texans for Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Turner is in the race with Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter, who are among the favorites on the defensive side of the ball.

Below are the finalists for Offensive Rookie of the Year, which includes two Detroit Lions.

And here are the finalists for Defensive Rookie of the Year, which also include Joey Porter Jr. and Devon Witherspoon.

Nacua broke the rookie records for receiving yards and receptions in a season, hauling in 105 passes for 1,486 yards. He also finished fourth in the NFL in receiving yards, breaking out in a big way as a fifth-round rookie.

Turner led all rookies with nine sacks, which was also the most on the Rams in 2023. As a third-round pick, Turner shined along the defensive line alongside Aaron Donald.

The winners of these awards will be announced at the NFL Honors on Feb. 8.

PFWA’s Rookie of the Year picks are a bad sign for Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner

The PFWA didn’t pick Puka Nacua or Kobie Turner for Rookie of the Year, which suggests the Associated Press won’t either

The NFL will announce its Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners on Feb. 8 at the NFL Honors show, and two Rams players are hoping to hear their names called. Puka Nacua is up for Offensive Rookie of the Year after a historic first season in the league, while Kobie Turner is a top candidate for the defensive award thanks to his nine sacks, which led all rookies.

Unfortunately, news that came out on Tuesday could indicate neither Rams rookie will win their respective award.

The Pro Football Writers of America announced that C.J. Stroud has been voted its Offensive Rookie of the Year and Will Anderson Jr. was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. The PFWA awards aren’t the ones officially recognized by the NFL like the Associated Press’ are, but it’s a bad sign for Nacua and Turner if history is any indication of who will win the AP awards.

Since 1990, there have only been three instances where the AP and PFWA didn’t award Offensive Rookie of the Year to the same player.

  • 1992: Carl Pickens (AP) Jason Hanson, Lions
  • 2013: Eddie Lacy (AP), Keenan Allen (PFWA)
  • 2016: Dak Prescott (AP), Ezekiel Elliott (PFWA)

The same goes for the defensive side of the ball. Since 1990, there have only been three years where the AP and PFWA didn’t pick the same Defensive Rookie of the Year.

  • 2004: Jonathan Vilma (AP), Dunta Robinson (PFWA)
  • 2011: Von Miller (AP), Aldon Smith (PFWA)
  • 2013: Sheldon Richardson (AP), Kiko Alonso (PFWA)

Does that mean Nacua and Turner can’t win the AP’s Rookie of the Year awards? Of course not. They still have a chance to, but the odds are against them after seeing who members of the PFWA voted for.

Nacua would be the runaway favorite in most years after setting rookie records for receiving yards and receptions. He’s certainly been the most productive rookie in the NFL, but Stroud plays a more valuable position and was a focal point of a team that completely turned things around in his first season.

On defense, it’s a much closer race between Turner, Anderson and Jalen Carter. It’s also a more subjective debate because it won’t come down to just numbers. There’s more to a defensive player’s impact than simply tackles and sack totals. That being said, Turner led all rookies with nine sacks and had 50 pressures, which is tied with Carter for the most among rookie defensive tackles.

We only have to wait a couple more weeks to find out if Nacua or Turner will win these coveted awards from the Associated Press.

Rams land NFL-high 4 players on PFWA’s 2023 All-Rookie Team

The Rams had 4 players selected to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, the most of any team in the NFL this year

The Pro Football Writers of America gave the Los Angeles Rams’ rookie class a ton of praise on Tuesday with the release of its 2023 All-Rookie Team. The PFWA voted four Rams to the team, which is the most of any team in the NFL this season.

Puka Nacua was selected at wide receiver, with Steve Avila making it at guard. On defense, Kobie Turner and Byron Young were both selected after putting together outstanding seasons with nine and eight sacks, respectively.

The next-closest team to the Rams was the Lions, who had three players selected. A total of 17 teams had rookies selected by the PFWA.

The only other Rams player who had a case was punter Ethan Evans, but he didn’t have the season that Bryce Baringer of the Patriots had. Evans averaged only 38.4 net yards per punt, which was the second-worst among qualified punters.

The PFWA also announced its Rookie of the Year awards, which came with some bad news for two Rams hopefuls. Nacua was edged out by C.J. Stroud, who won Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year. Fellow Texans standout Will Anderson Jr. was voted the Defensive Rookie of the Year by the PFWA, too, beating out Turner.

These aren’t the official awards recognized by the NFL like the Associated Press’ awards, but it’s an indication that Nacua and Turner could be snubbed when the AP reveals its selections next month.

Watch: Rams rookie Kobie Turner sang the National Anthem at a Kings game and nailed it

Kobie Turner has a singing background and he nailed this rendition of the National Anthem at Monday’s LA Kings game.

Kobie Turner can do more than just stop the run and rush the passer. He can also sing, and his musical background is where he earned the nickname, “The Conductor,” which he’s since turned into a sack celebration.

Turner loves singing and music in general, and he showed off his pipes before the LA Kings game on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. Turner got the opportunity to sing the National Anthem and he absolutely nailed it.

Anyone who’s heard him sing before knows he’s talented, so it’s hardly surprising to see him perform so well before the Kings game.

The Rams got themselves a good one in the draft last year, and as good a football player as he is, he’s an even better person – something Sean McVay and Raheem Morris have mentioned a number of times before.

Peter King reveals his votes for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year

Peter King is part of the panel that votes for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, and he revealed who he picked

It won’t be long before we find out whether the Los Angeles Rams will have two Rookies of the Year, one, or none. Puka Nacua is a top candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year following his historic first season in the NFL, while Kobie Turner is also among the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year after leading all first-year players with nine sacks.

It’s possible both players will win their respective awards, but there’s also a chance neither of them will take home any hardware at the NFL Honors next month. Peter King of NBC Sports is on the panel of sportswriters who vote on the AP awards and in his column on Monday morning, he revealed who he voted for.

He picked C.J. Stroud over Nacua for Offensive Rookie of the Year, which will disappoint a lot of Rams fans, but he did vote for Turner over Will Anderson Jr. and Jalen Carter for the defensive award. Both Rams rookies are deserving of the award and it’ll simply come down to how the voters perceive each of their impressive seasons.

C.J. Stroud over Nacua for Offensive Rookie, Rams DT Kobie Turner over Will Anderson for Defensive Rookie.

For Nacua, the case is simple: He set several rookie records, including the most receiving yards and receptions in a season by a first-year player. It was statistically the best rookie season ever by a wide receiver, and as good as Stroud was, Nacua’s numbers have never been matched by another wideout in his first season.

For Turner, his case a bit more complex. He had the most sacks by any rookie this year, but he was also a third-round defensive tackle, so he’s gone a bit overlooked since he was drafted. He also tied for fourth in total pressures among rookies, behind Anderson, who had 18 more.

Regardless of whether Nacua or Turner win their respective awards, they each turned in remarkable rookie seasons that will be remembered for a long time – particularly in the case of Nacua.