Kenny

Young

The inside linebackers Young will be trying to beat onto the field are Jayon Brown, Denzel Perryman, and 2021 third-rounder Divine Deablo. Young has been brutal in coverage so far in his NFL career, scoring a career-best 50.4 PFF rating in it last year. He’ll probably be depth for Las Vegas.

The Broncos have been decimated by linebacker injuries this year. They are currently down eight linebackers, six of whom are on injured reserve. Notable among them are starting interior linebackers Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell, who were both lost to season-ending pec injuries. Young landed in LA as part of the deal that sent Marcus Peters to Baltimore. He has started all seven games for the Rams this year but the team has scaled his role back in recent weeks. Perhaps seeing the direction they were heading in, Rams’ management sent him to a linebacker-needy team at an extremely cheap price. Young has two sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery on the year. He will likely start for the Broncos once his new coaches see that he is up to speed with their defense.

Young, who was benched at weak-side linebacker two weeks ago, is the ultimate trade throw-in. The No. 122 overall pick of last year’s draft, he is also old for a second-year pro, checking in 31 days shy of his 25th birthday. Young’s arrival is not going to change the calculus for the Rams’ defense.

Young (6’1/236) made 42 starts on the Bruins’ defense, leading the team in tackles (110) as a senior and earning first-team All-Pac 12. He graduated with 22 career tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks, then showed NFL-caliber athleticism with a 4.6-flat forty time and 36-inch vertical in Indy. A rangy, sideline-to-sideline off-ball linebacker, Young’s main drawback is a finesse rather than physical playing style. Nevertheless, Young’s plus pass-coverage ability gives him eventual starter potential. He’ll focus on special teams first.

Young’s had a strong preseason, leading the Ravens in tackles in last week’s game against the Colts. He’s pushing Patrick Onwuasor for snaps opposite Terrell Suggs. Young looks like a good bet to open the year in a starting role.