Byron Young put together the kind of season that should have made him impossible to overlook.
The Los Angeles Rams edge rusher was the team’s sacks leader last season and earned a 2025 Pro Bowl nod, yet ESPN left him out of its Top 10 rankings at the position. Not just outside the top 10, either - Young didn’t land among the honorable mentions or the also-received-votes group. He wasn’t included in any of the 19 edge rushers listed.
That omission stands out because Young had a strong argument to be in the conversation. His 12 sacks in 2025 tied for eighth in the league, and he brought more than just pass-rush production to the Rams.
He was a steady presence against the run and in coverage, too. Among players with at least seven sacks, no one matched Young’s 82 total tackles, a number that speaks to how much he does across the defense.
The advanced numbers back it up as well. PFF ranked Young ninth among 115 edge defenders, just ahead of former teammate Jared Verse at 11th. Young also finished with 64 total pressures, good for 13th, and led the group with 47 stops.
There was also a clear jump from the year before. Pro Football Reference had Young’s Approximate Value rise from 7 to 12, nearly doubling his impact from an already productive baseline. With Myles Garrett now in the picture, Young is positioned to benefit even more, and it’s hard to look at his trajectory and see anything less than a career year ahead.
Verse did at least receive an honorable mention, which only sharpens the question of why Young was left out entirely. The honorable-mention group also included Baltimore’s Trey Hendrickson and Jacksonville’s Josh Hines-Allen. Even the also-received-votes pool looks thin as an explanation for Young’s absence, since no one there had a higher sack total or AV, and only Pittsburgh’s Nick Herbig posted a better PFF grade.
It’s fair to say Young had a stronger case than several of the names that did make the list, including Verse. He had the edge in sacks and PFF grade, and he matched Verse in AV.
However it was sorted, the Rams pass rusher got the short end of the stick. And if nothing else, that should give him plenty of fuel.
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