The Los Angeles Rams saw four players — Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford and Trent McDuffie — make ESPN’s predictions for the top 100 players in 2026. With the Rams stockpiled with talent at nearly every position, who else could join them in next year’s rankings?
Stafford, Nacua and Garrett were included in the top 10 of the rankings, with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year at No. 1. LA might’ve had five players featured, but the unretired Aaron Donald was ineligible. Either way,
the Rams are more than their biggest names. Since Los Angeles will be prominently featured in primetime this season, several players who don’t get as much recognition can make a greater name for themselves.
Here are three players with the most realistic chances of making ESPN’s 2027 rankings with a strong campaign this year.
Kamren Kinchens
Earlier this offseason, PFF tabbed Kinchens as one of 10 players who could earn All-Pro honors for the first time in 2026. All-Pro recognition is entirely possible for the third-year defender, who has played in all 39 games of his Rams career since being selected in the 2024 NFL draft.
He is due for a breakout season after finishing fourth on the team in total tackles with 84. According to Pro Football Reference, his yards after catch (YAC) allowed dropped from 150 in 2024 to 82 last season, while his missed tackle percentage fell from 9.5% to 6.7%.
His tackling notably improved from Year 1 to Year 2, even though his interception total was cut in half from four to two. Despite that, Kinchens can still get a key pick when the opportunity arises.
With the Rams set to have a more potent pass rush in ‘26, expect quarterbacks to rush the ball out of their hands, which bodes well for Kinchens’ chances of increasing his interception total.
Byron Young
Young is perhaps the most underappreciated player on the team.
He was the only defender to amass double-digit sacks last season and has always been a strong pass rusher. Through his first three seasons, he has 27.5 sacks in 51 games played, averaging around nine sacks per season. The Tennessee product is more than just a sack master.
Even when he doesn’t get to opposing quarterbacks, they still feel his presence.
Young led the team with 29 QB hits, which were two more than Jared Verse. He also led the team with 12 tackles for loss. Want more evidence of his dominance? During his rookie season in 2023, when he last shared the field with AD, he finished with 19 QB hits, only four behind the future Hall of Famer.
Hopefully, Donald’s return won’t limit Young’s time on the field because he’s been one of the most consistent members of the defense since joining the Rams. Young doesn’t have many accolades to his name yet, but that might change if he remains his typical productive self.
Kobie Turner
Another underappreciated member of the defense, though not to the extent of Young.
Turner has also been one of the team’s most consistent defensive players. He has 24 sacks through his first three seasons and has generally been close to the top of many team statistical categories.
Last season, he finished third on LA in sacks (7.0), TFLs (9) and QB hits (14). Like Young, he is another defender who manages to make quarterbacks squirm, even if he doesn’t always get there.
The Conductor has been an excellent pass rusher and playmaker during his brief Rams tenure. He could post even greater stats with Garrett and Donald expected to garner much of the attention, allowing him to slip through the cracks.
