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Byron Young’s elite season without Myles Garrett

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Byron Young is delivering a standout season despite playing in the shadow of franchise cornerstones. Drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Young has thrived even as the Rams cycled through elite pass rushers—first Aaron Donald, then Jared Verse, and now Myles Garrett.

Without Garrett’s healthy presence this year, Young has emerged as one of the NFL’s most efficient edge rushers, ranking sixth in total pressures (21) while facing significantly fewer rushing attempts (103) than his peers. His 20.4% pressure rate on eligible pass-rush reps is third-best among EDGE defenders with at least 91 snaps, and he’s third in pass-rush productivity, combining sacks, hurries, and pressures relative to opportunity.

After a slow start with just two pressures in the season opener, Young has exploded for five against the Giants and seven each against the Broncos and Eagles, including four sacks in four games—three of them coming in a single outing against Philadelphia. The Rams’ defense, already among the league’s best, could take another leap forward once Garrett returns to full health and joins Young in the trenches.

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