Over the course of this season so far, the Los Angeles Rams’ defense has turned into a runaway freight train. Edge rushers Jared Verse and Byron Young should anchor the unit with big-play focus. Both players have made their statements in beautiful fashion. Their tumultuous friendship but no less strong relationship is the cornerstone of the team’s defensive first identity.
Last season, Jared Verse made a strong impression in his rookie campaign, earning the NFL‘s Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He ended the season with 76 pressures, which was good for fourth in the league. This season, he’s been even better, with 22 quarterback hits, good for 10th overall among all players. After all, his ability to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks hasn’t just been the signature of his game—it’s been his calling card.
Byron Young is turning heads this season with his privacy-focused stats. Plus, he’s notching up 24 quarterback hits so far, which is good for seventh in the NFL. Moreover, Young has racked up 11 sacks this year, good for the seventh highest total in the league. Notably, his 11 sacks mark the highest total by a Rams player since Aaron Donald achieved 12.5 sacks in 2021.
On the field, the synergy between Verse and Young has been impossible to miss. Their on-field chemistry, built over the last two seasons, has helped WFAM thrive as a duo. Verse portrays Young as “more like a brother,” pointing to an undercurrent of camaraderie that drives their high-octane performance. This relationship is the secret to their success on and off the field. Now they can go play fast, which is a reflection of their personalities and their skill sets.
Their combined efforts have not only elevated their individual performances but have contributed to an overall improvement in the Rams’ defensive unit. And Sean McVay, the Rams’ head coach, pointed to their talent. He said, “They’re really, really good football players with very nice complementary skill sets. McVay has made it clear that both players are improving as a member of an interconnected unit.
Of all Byron Young’s effects, none have been more impactful than his ability to pressure the quarterback. Passers against Young have a jaw-dropping QBR of 2.5. This tremendous pass-blocking rate is the third-best of any players who have allowed at least 25 total pressures this year. This half a sack statistic is a testament to Young’s impact on the game and ability to destroy opposing game plans.
In an interview with USA Today, Rams’ linebackers coach Chris Shula complimented both players for their ability to perform at a high level. From what Young has been giving us, he’s playing at a really high level—Shula on Young’s impact. He acknowledged the collective growth of the linebacker group, saying, “That group’s ascending as a whole, and he’s right there at the forefront of it.”
That competitive spirit between Verse and Young creates an incredibly healthy environment for one another to improve. It’s competitive, in a fun way,” Young said of their relationship. He emphasized their mutual goal of enhancing each other’s skills: “Him getting me better; I’m getting him better, and we just working beside each other.”
These two linebackers have a connection that extends much deeper than just football production. Underlying their bond is an ironclad trust and sense of team spirit. A teammate, Josaiah Stewart, joked that the two were like “Dumb and Dumber.” He remarked, “They’re just two meatheads, and they’re always competing. You know it comes from a point of love.”
Young’s growth has not gone unnoticed. He was grateful for the freedom that coaches have given him, freedom to create within his role. “He’s just seen me develop and grow and he said, you know what? I’m going to give you some freedom so you can put your own little sauce onto it for us to be successful,” Young said.
Both players continue to improve on what have already been dazzling statistics. Outside the lines, too, they’re deepening their bond, mirroring the spirit of teamwork that’s always been the bedrock of a world-class vaunted D.Jared Verse rushes with violent, uncompromising urgency and Byron Young shows up at the point of contact. Together, they give the league’s most talented depth chart Rams the most fearsome linebacker pairing possible.
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