​Byron Young has emerged as one of the premier young edge rushers in football, yet The Athletic’s Nate Atkins argues that it’s highly unlikely the Rams will keep him beyond the 2026 season. The numbers clearly reveal why Young’s impending contract demands will be a tough hurdle for Los Angeles. In 2025, he posted career highs in nearly every category, leading the Rams with 12.5 sacks, 29 quarterback hits, and 12 tackles for loss, while ranking fifth on the team in total tackles. This production has far outpaced what his third-round selection in 2023 would have suggested.
Such performances typically set the stage for a market-resetting extension, but in Young’s case, they portend a painful farewell instead. His next contract is expected to exceed $100 million, with projections placing four years around $145 million as a potential benchmark. The Rams’ own spending habits have made that math even more challenging. Los Angeles’s decision to trade for Myles Garrett and the subsequent adjustments to Garrett’s contract signal a prioritization of impact players at the position over a longer-term commitment to Young at top-of-market money. With Puka Nacua and Kobie Turner also eligible for extensions, the Rams may simply lack the cap space to retain every member of their loaded 2023 draft class.
There remains a possibility the Rams could franchise-tag Young for one more season to buy time, but such a move would only delay the inevitable given his age, market value, and the number of other stars the front office needs to accommodate. Unless there is a dramatic shift in direction, Young’s standout run in Los Angeles appears to be approaching its conclusion. This assessment reflects the dynamic and financially demanding nature of building a championship roster in today’s NFL, where elite performances must be weighed against long-term cap realities and the breadth of star talent already under contract.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Insider thinks Rams unlikely to retain key defensive star past 2026.