Byron Young says he’s open to staying in Los Angeles as Rams weigh extension priorities for their 2023 draft class

The Rams are heading into the later stages of their 2023 draft investments with a clear priority question: which players get extensions before their window to do so closes. In a development framed around contract timing and fit, pass rusher Byron Young said he is open to extending with Los Angeles, and the discussion points to 2026 as an important endpoint in his current deal structure.

Young, an edge/linebacker type on the Rams’ defense, is described as a pending free agent in 2027. That makes the time between now and the next offseason particularly relevant for the team’s front office, because decisions on extensions often determine not only player value but also the flexibility of future roster-building efforts.

The context matters because the Rams have multiple members of their 2023 draft class who are positioned for similar extension discussions. According to the report, that group includes wide receiver Puka Nacua, defensive tackle Kobie Turner, and offensive guard Steve Avila, all of whom are said to be eligible for extensions. Young’s openness to a long-term deal therefore slots into a broader theme: Los Angeles is trying to maintain continuity across the parts of the roster built from that rookie intake.

If Young’s current trajectory is best understood through the lens of the report, then 2026 would be his final year in Los Angeles under the timeline being discussed. That kind of deadline influences both sides. For the Rams, it is the period in which they can lock in production before the player reaches the point where the team’s bargaining leverage drops. For Young, it is a stage where the question becomes whether the financial terms and role expectations align with his long-term goals.

It is also worth recognizing what this type of extension talk represents in the NFL ecosystem. The Rams can keep a high-value player without negotiating a long-term deal, but the opportunity cost is that they risk losing the player or facing a market-driven price later. Conversely, extending during a window where a player is still under team control can help a club spread out cap commitments, but it requires confidence that the player’s impact is sustainable.

Young’s statement, as reported, does not resolve any contract details by itself. The practical takeaway is that the Rams have begun to weigh decisions across several 2023 draftees at once, and those choices can affect what remains possible for the rest of the roster. In other words, extension timing is not just about one player, it is about sequencing the team-building plan.

Going forward, the most important thing to watch is whether the Rams pursue extension negotiations with Young and how those efforts line up with the broader 2023 class picture. If the team starts to move quickly on multiple pieces, it would suggest Los Angeles is aiming to stabilize the spine of its roster. If talks drag, then 2026 becomes not just a “last year in Los Angeles” marker, but a looming deadline that could shape offseason strategy in a more urgent way.