Jack Youngblood came from the University of Florida, and the 1^st Round Pick would be asked to fill the shoes of possibly the most iconic defensive force in Rams history, Deacon Jones.  Considering the pressure he had to feel that he was under, it is more than safe to say that he did one hell of a job!

If we were to have made this list based on their iconic stature, Deacon Jones would have been #1.

With the vast amount of players who suited up for the Rams (regardless of the city) that it would be difficult to narrow it down to one player, and it certainly was.  There were other Pro Football Hall of Famer with whom we easily could have slid into the top spot, but we elected to go with Merlin Olsen, the ultimate coach's player who led by example and who went down in history as one of the most outstanding Defensive Tackles the game has ever seen.  (This was written before Aaron Donald took over that spot)

When Alex Bregman took over the hot corner in Houston, the franchise didn't just gain a gold-glove defender; they inherited a psychological edge. A player defined by a relentless, almost obsessive preparation, Bregman arrived mid-2016 and immediately injected a sense of high-stakes swagger into the lineup. He wasn't just a cog in the machine; he became the ignition switch for the most successful era in the organization's history.

His best period occurred during the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, finishing in the top five of the MVP voting in back-to-back summers. The 2019 season remains a monument to his craft: a .296 average punctuated by 41 home runs and a staggering 112 walks. He didn't just out-slug the competition; he out-thought them, leading the major leagues in walks while maintaining a specialized ability to deliver the soul-crushing hit when the leverage was at its peak. This two-year stretch solidified his status as a premier run-producer, amassing a combined 16.0 bWAR that few infielders in the modern game have matched.

The most defining aspect of his game, however, is his transformation into a postseason titan. Bregman’s fingerprint is visible on every major milestone of the Astros’ dynasty, from his walk-off single in the 13-12 thriller of the 2017 World Series to his steady-state defense during the 2022 championship run. He possessed a professional resilience that allowed him to thrive under the harshest scrutiny, serving as the clubhouse’s vocal leader as it navigated multiple deep playoff runs. Whether he was famously staring down a pitcher after a home run or providing the tactical adjustments needed to solve an elite closer, he competed with a grit that made him the face of Houston’s relentless winning culture.

Following the 2024 season, Bregman signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Boston Red Sox. Bregman compiled 1,132 hits, 191 home runs, and 663 RBIs while winning two World Series titles as an Astro.