BREAKING: Rams’ Byron Young blows past 10 sacks in 12 games, ignites DPOY race
Byron Young just kicked the door open on the 2025 season. I can confirm the Rams outside linebacker has topped 10 sacks in the first 12 games, something this franchise has not seen this early since Aaron Donald. The league took notice weeks ago. Now the race for Defensive Player of the Year has a new name at the front.
Young has hit double digit sacks through 12 games, the fastest start by a Rams defender since Aaron Donald.
Who Byron Young is, and why this is different
Let’s be clear. We are talking about Byron Young, the Rams edge rusher, not the Eagles defensive tackle with the same name. This Byron Young was a third round pick in 2023 out of Tennessee. He arrived as a high-motor rusher with raw tools. He has turned himself into a complete problem for offenses.
He brings speed off the edge, then he changes pace. He can win outside, then counter inside. He chases from the backside with the same burst in the fourth quarter. Coaches have trusted him with more snaps and more responsibility. He keeps answering with production and poise.
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Two NFL players share the name. This story is about the Rams outside linebacker, not the Eagles defensive tackle.
The film and the numbers tell the same story
The first step is sudden. Tackles set deep to handle it, and he converts speed to power. When they anchor, he dips and rips under. When backs chip, he spins free and resets the edge. His rush plan is better this year, and so is his finish. The hits are cleaner. The sacks are closing drives.
He has also cleaned up the run lane. Watch the way he squeezes down on wide zone, then redirects to the ball. That shows up late, when teams try to bleed clock. He wins those snaps with effort and leverage.
The month of September set the tone. He earned NFC Defensive Player of the Month and never cooled off. Double digit sacks by Week 13 puts him in rare company for this team. The last Ram to pressure quarterbacks at this pace, this early, was Donald in his prime.
The Rams are moving Young around, standing him up and putting him in wide alignments. It is forcing one on ones and freeing interior stunts.
Why the leap happened now
Credit the work. Young leaned into Pilates in the offseason to loosen his hips and core. That shows in his bend. He is cornering tighter, with less strain, and his balance through contact is better. He also dove into film. You see him recognize sets and play action faster. He is not just rushing to spots. He is attacking tells.
The other boost is the rookie on the opposite side. Jared Verse has real juice, and offenses cannot slide to both edges. That partnership has changed the math on third down. If you chip Young, Verse wins. If you turn the protection to Verse, Young gets the tackle alone. That is why the pressures have come in waves.
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Leadership and a defense finding its edge
Young is not loud, but his standard is loud. Teammates point to his pace in practice and his calm after big plays. After a recent 31 to 28 loss, he called it a wake up call. He wanted the focus back on details, on finishing games, on playoff football. The locker room listened.
This is a young defense with a veteran heartbeat. The group has rallied around speed, effort, and takeaways. Young sits at the center of that push. He is the first to congratulate a teammate on a stunt win. He is the first to own a miss on the sideline. That plays in December.
What it means for the Rams and the awards race
Here is the bottom line. The Rams have a real closer on defense again. Offenses must change calls at the line. The ball is coming out faster. That creates chances for picks, for strips, for short fields that decide games.
- Young’s pace fits a DPOY case, with elite sack totals and impact on third down.
- He is tracking toward Pro Bowl and All Pro consideration.
- The Rams’ pass rush, boosted by Young and Verse, is now a weekly problem.
- This surge shapes the playoff chase, where one sack can swing a season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Which Byron Young is this?
A: The Rams outside linebacker. Not the Eagles defensive tackle with the same name.
Q: How many sacks does he have right now?
A: He has passed 10 sacks through 12 games, a landmark start for a Rams defender.
Q: Why is he better this season?
A: Offseason Pilates improved his flexibility. Film study sharpened his plan. A strong edge partner in Jared Verse helps create more one on ones.
Q: Is he a real DPOY candidate?
A: Yes. His production, drive killing plays, and consistency put him firmly in that mix.
Q: What does this mean for the Rams?
A: They have a dynamic edge who tilts protections. That lifts the entire defense and gives them closing power in tight games.
The Rams needed a star to carry their pass rush into January. Byron Young has seized that job, and he is setting the pace. Defensive Player of the Year talk is not hype here. It is the natural result of a season that keeps delivering answers, snap after snap.
