​The Los Angeles Rams have had one of the NFL’s better pass-rush units in the last two years, and Byron Young has played a serious part in the defense’s development in the post-Aaron Donald era. He’s gotten better every year, peaking in 2025 with a team-best 12 sacks on his way to a Pro Bowl selection.Heading into 2026, he’s bound to be overshadowed by Myles Garrett, but he’s not to be forgotten. With plenty of one-on-one matchups coming his way, Young could have his best season yet.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe ranks 12th on our list of the Rams’ most important players for 2026.The Rams used a third-round pick on Young in the 2023 draft, selecting him after a winding road to the NFL that included working at Dollar General, junior college and two years at Tennessee. He was drafted 77th overall by the Rams and became a starter right away, leading the team with eight sacks as a rookie in 2023.17 games (17 starts): 12 sacks, 82 tackles, 29 QB hits, 12 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumbleYoung typically rushed from the left side of the defense last season, but he and Jared Verse did flip sides at times. The good news is Garrett usually plays on the right side of the defense, so it’s not as if Young will need to change his role dramatically.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAdditionally, Young dropped into coverage much more than Verse did for the Rams, so he’s comfortable doing that, whereas Garrett’s talent is wasted by asking him to drop back; Garrett had zero snaps in coverage last season.Young will remain the Rams’ No. 2 edge rusher opposite Garrett, though he could rotate with Josaiah Stewart at times when he needs a rest. But given the number of snaps he managed to play last year, it’s rare for Young to be winded and needing a break on the sidelines.Including the playoffs, Young had 74 total pressures last season, which ranked 11th among all edge rushers. His 81.2 pass-rush grade was also 15th at the position, showing just how effective he was when rushing the quarterback off the edge.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs vital as Garrett is to the success of the Rams, Young was their best pass rusher last season – and he’ll now see more one-on-one matchups than ever before. Having two edge rushers who are difficult to block makes a world of difference for a defense, preventing opponents from stacking the line to one side and paying extra attention to one player (like Garrett).Young will keep offensive linemen honest and ensure that they can’t double- and triple-team Garrett on every snap. Young is a fantastic edge rusher in his own right, as evidenced by the numbers he put up last season in his first Pro Bowl year.His speed and always-on motor make him a weapon against scrambling quarterbacks, too, because he can chase them down when they escape the pocket and use their legs.This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams’ 26 most important players for 2026 – No. 12: OLB Byron Young