The Rams’ defense keeps finding new ways to make life miserable up front, and the latest proof came in back-to-back joint practices. First, the Dallas Cowboys had no answer for Los Angeles’ inside-out tandem of Kobie Turner and Byron Young.
Then the Saints ran into the same problem. That’s the kind of impact these two young defenders have started to make: sudden, disruptive, and hard to explain once the damage is done.
Even Rams general manager Les Snead seemed a little taken aback by how quickly both players have delivered on the promise he saw in their 2023 draft profiles. He viewed them as “potential star” types, not the usual safe bet.
Young came into the league with talent, but also the kind of maturity that left teams uneasy about spending on a rookie who was as old as many veterans. Turner, meanwhile, drew questions about whether his frame could hold up to NFL physicality.
The Rams took the swing anyway, and both players brought the kind of football obsession that has fueled their rise.
Los Angeles was in a rough spot after the disastrous 2022 season and ended up drafting starters in the third round, something the franchise has rarely had to do. That kind of situation usually calls for patience, because the Rams’ normal development track often gives young players a year before coaches fully trust them. In 2023, there was no such luxury.
Turner and Young were under pressure from the start, but they weren’t left to figure it out alone. They played next to Aaron Donald, and the All-Pro defensive lineman spent his final season helping guide the pair. For two young players, that was the dream setup.
The experience mattered, but so has what came after it. As they head into the final year of their rookie contracts, Turner and Young are squeezing every bit of mastery into each snap. They may not draw the kind of noise that follows former teammate Jared Verse, and they don’t command the same spotlight as Myles Garrett, but that hasn’t stopped them from becoming a weekly problem for opponents.
Coaches and opponents know exactly what they bring: run defense, quarterback pressure, and the kind of block-shedding that tilts a game in Los Angeles’ favor. With so many extensions coming due at once, this could also be their last season together.
In Other News...
Rams Just Got Needed O-Line Help At The Right Time
Justin Dedich is back in the fold at just the right time for a Rams offensive line that has been trying to hold together through a run of injuries and potential suspensions. After missing training camp with a hand injury, Dedich passed a physical and was activated by Los Angeles, giving the team another interior option as it works through the early part of the season.
Dedich is expected to add depth rather than immediately reshape the lineup, but even that matters when the line room has been stretched thin. He may have to start the season playing with a cast, a reminder that the Rams are still managing health as much as they are building continuity up front. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Roster Moves Just Put A Familiar Defender In Limbo
The Rams reshaped the back end of their roster with a flurry of moves, adding cornerback Steven Gilmore and outside linebacker Devean Deal while waiving linebacker Daniel Rickert with an injury designation. Los Angeles also shifted veteran cornerback Zech McPhearson and edge rusher Keir Thomas II to injured reserve, a set of transactions that underscored how quickly the depth chart can change in late August.
Thomas move stands out because he has been part of the Rams organization for four years and carved out a role across 17 games, mostly as a depth defender with 13 tackles and three tackles for loss. He exited a recent preseason game with a groin injury, and landing on injured reserve leaves his future in a far less certain place as the Rams continue trimming and reworking the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Opened One Last Preseason Door For Young Players
The Rams kept the roster churn going as they added edge rusher Devean Deal and cornerback Steven Gilmore, a reminder that this part of August is as much about opportunity as it is about evaluation. With camp and preseason still shaping the back end of the roster, Los Angeles continues to sift through players who can handle special teams work, developmental snaps and the kind of depth every team ends up needing before the regular season arrives.
The corresponding moves opened spots after cornerback Zech McPhearson and edge rusher Keir Thomas were placed on injured reserve, while linebacker Daniel Rickert was waived with an injury designation. For younger players trying to stick, every shuffle matters because it changes the competition around them and can create one more chance to be seen before the Rams make their final calls. [Read more 🡒]