Four Los Angeles Rams players , Myles Garrett, Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford, and Trent McDuffie , already locked down spots on ESPN’s predictions for the top 100 players in 2026. With Stafford, Nacua, and Garrett all in the top 10, including the reigning Defensive Player of the Year at number one, you’d think the talent pool was tapped. But nope. The Rams are absolutely loaded, and there are two more defenders who are making serious noise, proving there’s even more star power bubbling up.
Kamren Kinchens Is Making Tackles Disappear (For Opponents, That Is)
Kamren Kinchens, that third-year defender, is absolutely due for a monster year. PFF already tabbed him as one of ten players who could snag All-Pro honors for the first time in 2026. The dude has played in *every single one* of his 39 career games since being drafted in 2024, and his tackling? It got seriously better from Year 1 to Year 2. He finished fourth on the team with 84 total tackles last season. Remember watching him line up right there at Lumen Field against our very own Seahawks in January 2026? Check this out: his yards after catch allowed plummeted from a whopping 150 yards in 2024 down to 82 last season. Plus, his missed tackle percentage fell from 9.5% to a rock-solid 6.7%. That’s massive growth right there! While his interceptions dipped from four to two, do *not* sleep on his ability to make a key pick. With the Rams bringing a more potent pass rush in ’26, quarterbacks are gonna be chucking the ball out fast, and Kinchens is gonna be there to snatch ’em up.
Byron Young Is An Absolute Nightmare, Even Without The Sack
Then there’s Byron Young, probably the most slept-on player on that entire Rams squad. This guy was the *only* defender to hit double-digit sacks last season! Let that sink in. Through his first three seasons, he’s already racked up 27.5 sacks in 51 games, averaging around nine sacks a year. That’s consistent, relentless disruption, folks! But he’s not just a sack machine. Even when he doesn’t bring the QB down, he’s absolutely living in their backfield. Young led the team with 29 QB hits, two more than Jared Verse. And don’t forget his 12 tackles for loss, which *also* led the team. Need more proof? During his rookie season in 2023, even while sharing the field with the legendary Aaron Donald, Young racked up 19 QB hits, only four shy of AD himself. This Tennessee product is pure, unadulterated disruption, and it’s high time he gets the recognition he so clearly deserves.
So, while folks are hyping up the big names already locked into ESPN’s lists, you best keep a sharp eye on Kamren Kinchens and Byron Young. These guys are getting featured in prime time this season, and they are absolutely out to make a name for themselves. The question isn’t *if* they’ll break into that 2027 top 100, but how high they’ll climb. The Rams are stacked, and these two defenders are making darn sure everyone knows there’s even more elite skill on the way. This season is their chance to prove they’re among the very best in the NFL.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
Leave a Reply