Four Rams Make All-Rookie Team for First Time since 1964

By John Turney 

In 1961 United Press International (UPI) began choosing NFL All-Rookie teams and in 1974 the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) followed suit. For the most part, these are the only organizations that have had their annual teams used in NFL Publications, with some exceptions. 

Additionally, many publications covering the NFL have had All-Rookie teams - Pro Football Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Football Digest, The Sporting News, USA Today, ESPN.com and many more—including Chris Willis of NFL Films choosing one every year for us.

Today the PFWA announced its All-Rookie team and among the selections were four Los Angeles Rams—receiver Puka Nacua, guard Steve Avila, outside linebacker Byron Young, and defensive tackle Kobie Turner.

Using just the major teams (PFWA and UPI) 2023 marked the second time four Rams have been named All-Rookie. It happened in 1964 when UPI named quarterback  Bill Munson, receiver Bucky Pope, center Joe Wendryhoski and kicker Bruce Gossett to their team.

There has been one other year when the Rams had four players make someone's All-Rookie team. That was in 2014 when defensive tackle  Aaron Donald (PFWA, ESPN, Sports Illustrated), cornerback E.J. Gaines (PFWA, ESPN), running back Tre Mason (PFWA, Sports Illustrated); and tackle Greg Robinson (Sports Illustrated). Donald, Gaines and Mason made the major team (PFWA) and the others made either ESPN's list or Sports Illustrated's.  

Rams fans might bristle seeing that Greg Robinson made anyone's All-Rookie team but as a rookie but he was not terrible his first year but was not rated as highly as the players that made the PFWA team -- the Titans' Taylor Lewan and Ja'Wuan James of the Dolphins.

In 1962, 1971 and 1977 the Rams had three All-Rookie players if all sources are used. And if all sources are used for 2023 the Rams have a fifth All-Rookie player. Chris Willis picked Ethan Evans as the punter on our PFJ squad.

If you look at just the immediate impact of rookie classes it could be argued that 2023 is the best in franchise history with 2014 being close. 

The Class of 1971—Jack Youngblood, Isiah Robertson and Dave Elmendorf—had had the biggest long-term success if you don't look at it from just an immediate standpoint. In a handful of years we will see if the 2023 Rams rookies can build on what they've done in their first year.