Byron Young is entering a contract year with the Los Angeles Rams, and he’s either going to be rewarded for his efforts or a victim of the team’s success. The Rams must decide which players they can afford to keep from a long list of impending free agents and Young, who had 12.5 sacks last season and is now paired opposite of Myles Garrett, is set to get a huge payday in the next 12 months.
If not from the Rams, then from a different team.
Young told reporters on Sunday last week that it would be “nice
to get a contract right now”.
Will Les Snead facilitate a deal with Young before Week 1 or not be so “nice”?
OLB Byron Young Open To Rams Extension (profootballrumors.com)
“Young has been a full-time starter throughout his Rams tenure, serving as an impactful presence along the defensive front each season. The 28-year-old set a new career high in several categories during the 2025 campaign, including sacks (12), tackles (82) and quarterback pressures (40). Another strong showing would result in a substantial market, although Young noted “it’d be nice to get a contract right now.”
The Rams already have several notable deals on their books, including offseason acquisitions like Myles Garrett, Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson. Garrett is one of 10 edge rushers currently attached to a deal averaging $30MM or more per season. Young may not manage to reach that level on his second contract, but a substantial raise in 2027 will be in store barring an injury or an unexpected downturn in production. Another campaign working with Los Angeles’ starting front four is expected, and Garrett’s presence could help generate additional sack opportunities for Young, Turner and Braden Fiske.“
Aaron Donald works out with Rams players
Donald hasn’t made a decision yet, but was seen working out with Braden Fiske and Desjuan Johnson on Sunday.
‘Iron sharpens iron’: New CB McDuffie elevating Rams’ WRs (espn.com)
“Davante Adams said “certain guys make plays because they fall into them,” but that’s not the case for McDuffie.
“But Trent’s out there doing something every single play,” Adams said. “… He’s always got the right technique. He’s got a great way of reading you out. He understands his position on any given play, whether it’s his leverage or situationally a smart player and great technique.
“I don’t want to gas him up too much and have everybody thinking that he’s going to win MVP this year, but I’m really happy with what I see. It’s the epitome of iron sharpens iron. He’s made some plays on me. I got him a couple times yesterday and I’m assuming that’s how it’ll be all year.”
CeeDee Lamb looking forward to Rams joint practices (d210tv)
The Rams and Cowboys hold a joint practice on Tuesday.
“That’ll never get old. Ever,” Lamb said. “I’m excited that we were able to do that more times than not and able to connect early on in camp.”
The All-Pro receiver is also looking forward to Dallas’ upcoming joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams after spending weeks lining up against familiar teammates.
“Being able to compete against somebody else,” Lamb said. “Tired of seeing my own guys who know our plays. They seen it for months now. I feel like we’ll see how we operate when somebody else is across the line of scrimmage.”
Rams Defense Continues to Make Noise After Strong Finish to Training Camp (sports.yahoo.com)
“A lot of those plays were more of a reflection of great individual plays than necessarily poor execution,” said McVay. “The plays that happened today, there were a handful of turnovers, but I thought it was a really great reflection of excellent execution defensively…I thought the defense was great today and it wasn’t as good for the offense, but it was more of great defense than it was bad offense.”
Rams have 2 CBs in PFF’s top-15 (Athlon)
What a difference one offseason makes!
“Pro Football Focus released its cornerback rankings Friday, and the Los Angeles Rams landed two players in the top 15.
Trent McDuffie came in at No. 4, while Jaylen Watson checked in at No. 15.
The former Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs have transformed a position that was a weakness for the Rams last season, when the team struggled to contain wide receivers on the outside.“
Myles Garrett Is Already Changing the Rams Defense
It hasn’t hurt that the defense has gotten Myles Garrett back in the mix after missing three practices toward the end of raining camp. As noted by The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, Garrett has the ability to take over a practice and had a pick-six off of a screen pass on Saturday.“
Aaron Donald decision updates: Latest rumors, news for Rams return (usatoday)
“Coach Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams returned to their practice facility in Woodland Hills for the next step of their preseason preparations.
The team had previously spent the past two weeks at Loyola Marymount University for training camp. The biggest storyline remains the status of Aaron Donald and whether he will return for a potential championship run this season. McVay had previously stated that there would be an update on Donald’s potential return when the team was back in Woodland Hills.“
“Let’s go o-line!” | Kevin Dotson Mic’d Up at Rams Training Camp (therams.com)
“Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Kevin Dotson was Mic’d Up at Rams Training Camp. Listen in on his day at camp as he chatted with fellow o-linemen, talked run-game strategy with Kyren Williams, and cheered on the big plays at practice.”
Sean McVay Puts Rams QB on Notice During Training Camp (heavy.com)
“McVay spoke candidly about the Rams vision for their upcoming preseason slate, which opens on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, specifically regarding Bennett and Simpson.
“Ty definitely will. Haven’t decided on Stetson yet,” McVay told reporters on August 8 when asked directly if either will play, before explaining what will determine his decision. “Just really seeing established position, stuff like that.”
Notably, it was Bennett who took second-team reps in the Rams’ practice on Saturday.
“That would be an endorsement of his status as the official QB2,” the Associated Press’ Greg Beacham posted in reaction. “Jimmy [Garoppolo] didn’t play in either of the past 2 preseasons.”
Quentin Lake has a blunt assessment of his role next to Myles Garrett (ramswire)
“”You’ve got two, which is I think unheard of, two potentially Defensive Players of the Year up front,” Lake said. “Now, at the end of the day, you just have to do your job and let those guys go do what they do. If it were just Myles, obviously we know where the slide’s going to go to. But if you get AD and Myles, it’s like pick your poison.”
Lake, entering the final stretch of a rebuilt secondary that also added cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson this offseason, is coming off a three-year, $42 million extension signed Jan. 1 that runs through 2028.“
LA Rams’ Blake Corum Reveals Offseason Training Behind Camp Surge (sports.yahoo.com)
“Corum’s training with Johnson went past a standard speed program.
Per the Rams’ training camp observations, Corum said Johnson’s philosophy included “training without shoes on,” working the nervous system and developing fast-twitch muscles.
Corum said the focus on his ankle stiffness has helped him get his foot into the ground and explode out of cuts more effectively.
That improvement has been noticeable to the Rams.“
Grant Stuard is delivering as advertised, and he’s just what the Rams need (ramblinfan)
“Signing Stuard in free agency, to a flexible two-year, $4.45 million deal, was part of the organization’s effort to fix that. In five seasons for the Colts and Lions, he has seen at least 65 percent of available special-teams snaps in the games he’s played, in addition to making five starts for Indianapolis in 2024.
Although he’s made a name for himself as an ST specialist, the former Houston Cougar has stepped up when called on defensively.
“I think one of his starts when he was in Indy, he made 18 tackles and just flying around the field,” recalled Shula, who also referenced his familiarity with Stuard’s game coming out of Houston, when Shula was LA’s linebackers coach.“
Comment of the Day
Bubba says…When the topic was what Ty Simpson had to prove in the preseason.
BubbaKincaid: Lol….dont expect nothin from a project qb with the 13th overall pick. The coddling and excuse making for this guy is gettin out of hand. Bubba for one expects the greatest qb processor that snead has ever seen had better be doin good things early on in preseason…you dont pick friggin projects with that pick.
Brendan says if he does good things in preseason then rrams fans should be fired up but if he doesn’t then we need to crank out the excuses…sorry but it doesn’t work that way
The author might not expectt qb things out of Ty in pre season but this fan sure does and I hope he shows why he was chosen so high cuz it will be good for the Rams….it could easily go the other way too. Buckle up
Feed Post of the Day:
Was Myles Garrett worth it. Short answer: We don’t know yet. Longer answer: If he can win one Super Bowl during his time with the Rams, worth it.
