Byron Young

ANALYSIS
Young was a dominant force on the Rams defense to start the year, logging 9.0 sacks through the first seven games of the campaign. His sack production dipped noticeably following a Week 8 bye, which may have been due to a knee injury that he was playing through since November, including in each of Los Angeles' three playoff games. Head coach Sean McVay relayed Monday that Young may not need surgery to clean out his knee, and the latter should be ready for the Rams' offseason program, per Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register.

ANALYSIS
The Rams have some tough decisions coming up. Puka Nacua is also eligible for a contract extension this offseason, and he'll get a deal near the top of the wide receiver market, if not reset it. Matthew Stafford will also need a new contract if he decides to play in 2026. On top of that, Young's fellow edge rushers Jared Verse and Braden Fiske will be eligible for extensions next offseason, and the team may not feel it can devote that much cap space to the position by locking up all three. Young recorded a career-high 12.0 sacks during the regular season in 2025, and if the Rams determine he's the odd man out, he would likely bring back a significant return in a trade.