Rams 2020 awards: MVP, Rookies of the Year, Breakout Player and more

The 2020 season didn’t end the way the Los Angeles Rams hoped, losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers. But that doesn’t mean the season was a failure.

There’s a lot for the Rams to build on ahead of the 2021 season after getting key contributions from rookies, younger studs such as Darious Williams and Sebastian Joseph-Day, and improving immensely on defense.

To put a bow on the season for Los Angeles, we handed out individual awards for some of the top performers. Aaron Donald was predictably recognized, as were Cam Akers, Austin Corbett and Leonard Floyd.

Here are our 2020 end-of-season awards for the Rams.

MVP: Aaron Donald

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

No one was more valuable to the Rams than Donald this season. If you need evidence of that, just look at how the defense played in the divisional round against the Packers when Donald was limited to half the snaps, and when he was out there, he was clearly limited. He led the team in sacks (13.5), tackles for loss (14) and QB hits (28), while also topping the NFL with 98 total pressures. Donald impacts the game in so many ways, whether it’s taking down the quarterback, setting up other pass rushers with one-on-one opportunities or blowing up plays in the running game to create tackles for loss. He should be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, an award he contends for every season. Donald is just that good and is incredibly valuable to Los Angeles.

Co-Offensive Players of the Year: Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

For an offense that struggled all year long, it’s hard to pick the best player from that side of the ball. Jared Goff had trouble throwing the ball consistently, the running back position was manned by a committee of players, and the receiving corps didn’t have a 1,000-yard receiver. But Kupp and Woods still managed to put up impressive numbers. Kupp caught 92 passes for 974 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games, with Woods hauling in 90 passes for 936 yards and six touchdowns; Woods added 155 yards rushing and two touchdowns, too. They were both consistent and reliable playmakers, and it’s impossible to pick one over the other for this award.

Co-Defensive Players of the Year: Donald and Jalen Ramsey

(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Donald and Ramsey were both outstanding and everything the Rams did on defense started with them. Donald forced quarterbacks to get rid of the ball quickly, while Ramsey forced them to throw away from their No. 1 receivers because he was guarding them so closely. They were complementary players and hugely impactful for the Rams. We already went over Donald’s numbers above, but Ramsey had one interception, allowed a completion rate of only 50.7%, gave up a measly 5.0 yards per target and allowed only two touchdowns. He was arguably the best cornerback in the NFL this season.

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Akers

(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

There’s no debate about this one. Akers led the team with 625 yards rushing on 145 carries, scoring three total touchdowns with 748 total yards from scrimmage. He broke out late in the season and continued his stellar play into the postseason with big games against the Seahawks and Packers. Akers has all but cemented himself as the team’s starting running back in 2021, proving to be their most productive runner as the season wore on. He was a stud in Year 1 and should only get better as he gains experience.

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jordan Fuller

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Again, no debate here. Fuller missed four games, but he still made 60 tackles, broke up five passes, pulled in three interceptions and provided great coverage over the top of the defense in his first NFL season as a sixth-round pick. His performance was particularly impressive considering the lack of training camp work and preseason games he was afforded in the condensed offseason, picking up things quickly in Los Angeles. It’s rare for a sixth-round pick to start from Day 1, but it’s even more impressive given the offseason he and other rookies had.

Breakout Player of the Year: Darious Williams

(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Williams has officially arrived. He played all 16 games and was essentially a starter at cornerback, leading the team with four interceptions and 14 passes defensed. That doesn’t include his pick-six against the Seahawks in the playoffs, either, which was a huge play in the game. Williams allowed a passer rating of only 63.9 in coverage and gave up just two touchdowns, locking down receivers on a weekly basis opposite Ramsey. He was truly one of the best cornerbacks in the league this season, even though he won’t get recognized as such.

Underrated Player of the Year: Sebastian Joseph-Day

(AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)

The big men up front don’t get a lot of credit, especially considering they play next to the best defender on the planet. But Joseph-Day was outstanding for the Rams in his second season as a starter. He was a stud at nose tackle, consistently plugging up running lanes and getting penetration to force backs to the outside. His play in the middle is a big reason the Rams finished third in rushing defense. Teams had a hard time running against their stout defensive line despite lacking a lot of talent at inside linebacker.

Most improved: Austin Corbett

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Corbett was solid in 2019 after he took over as the starter, but he was much better this season. He allowed just one sack all year and was a road-grader in the running game at right guard. He routinely opened up running lanes for Akers, Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown on the right side with Rob Havenstein and was a key contributor in the Rams’ effort to get the ground game back on track. Joseph-Day, Williams and Troy Hill deserve consideration here, too, but Corbett was a stud at right guard.

Best newcomer: Leonard Floyd

(AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)

The Rams didn’t make a ton of additions last offseason, but the biggest was undoubtedly Floyd. He put together a career year with 10.5 sacks, 55 tackles (11 for a loss) and 19 QB hits, dominating from his outside linebacker spot. Sean McVay and Brandon Staley said he was one of the most complete edge rushers in the league, which says all you need to know about the way Floyd played. And it wasn’t just his play as a pass rusher that stood out. He was outstanding against the run, too, setting the edge and keeping running backs inside. Floyd set himself up for a big payday by shining for the Rams in 2020.