Los Angeles Rams edge rusher Byron Young could be poised for a massive breakout season in 2026.
The Los Angeles Rams are set to embark on a 2026 season where they have mighty expectations.
Despite a stacked roster that includes talent on both sides of the ball, one player who could be poised for a breakout season is Pro Bowl edge rusher Byron Young.
Young had himself quite a season in 2025; however, he could make even more noise in 2026 with the addition of Myles Garrett. The 28-year-old has the potential to fly under the radar while making a significant impact for Los Angeles.
Zachary Pereles of CBS Sports predicted that Young could be the one player to break out for the Rams in 2026.
"It can be difficult to find an under-the-radar star on a team with so many very much on-the-radar stars, but Byron Young fits the bill here. He has already played very well -- PFF had him as the No. 10 EDGE in the NFL last year -- and now he'll get a ton of one-on-one opportunities with Myles Garrett on the opposite side."
Saying that Young could break out in 2026 just goes to show how much he could thrive this upcoming season. One could argue that he broke out in a big way in 2025, recording career highs in sacks (12), total tackles (82), and quarterback hits (29).
The addition of Garrett could unlock Young in a way he wasn't able to in 2025. There will be so much attention on Garrett this upcoming season, and deservedly so.
Garrett often warrants double teams, based on his skill set as a strong and unforgiving pass rusher. If that is the case, many offenses may forget or not gameplan for Young, who had an outstanding 2025 season.
It could be argued that Young was so successful due to the prowess of Jared Verse, who is now with the Cleveland Brown. Garrett is a far better pass rusher on paper, and could be a major scheme mismatch that will garner more wins for the younger Rams defender.
That could and should open the door for Young to wreak just as much havoc as Garrett, Kobie Turner, or even Poona Ford.
The former Tennessee Volunteer has established himself as one of the more elite and well-rounded edge rushers in the league. There is no question that he has served as the cornerstone for the Rams' defense, as he possesses elite pass-rush win rates, high tackle volume, and has an incredible ability to stop the run.
According to Pro Football Focus, Young had an overall defensive grade of 84.9, which made him only one of three players in the league – alongside Garrett and Will Anderson Jr. – to earn a top-15 grade in both pass-rushing and run-defense.
Young may not be viewed as one of the NFL's elite pass rushers on a week-to-week basis, but that does not diminish his impact. On any given Sunday, the 28-year-old is capable of being just as disruptive as some of the league's top edge defenders and has the ability to change the course of a game with his play.
Alongside Garrett, Young could be even better than he was in 2025, and the Rams are hoping that will be the case.
