It's only minicamp, but this Rams pass rush is loaded for the 2025 season

(2) That rookie edge rusher from Michigan

When the Rams selected Michigan rookie edge rusher Josaiah Stewart, the team had many options to choose from to improve the roster. So why did the team turn its attention to a position that seemed to be abundantly stocked for 2025, and ignore positions that seemed to need a bit more oomph to meet the demands of a new NFL season?

For openers, this team has a soft spot for players who begin their collegiate careers by dominating at smaller football programs, but who transfer to larger college football teams and continue to improve. Such is the case for Stewart, who began at Coastal Carolina but finished at Michigan. At 6-foot-1 and 249 pounds, he is a bit on the smallish side, but he has a ferocious pass rush, and his ability to drop into pass coverage adds an entirely new dimension to the Rams' defense.

While Stewart may not suit up for 100 percent of the team's defensive snaps, whenever he steps onto the football field, fans know that he will give 100 percent of his effort. As one NFL scout said about Stewart, he will be fun to watch.

(1) That veteran nose tackle from the Los Angeles Chargers

The Rams' front office surprised me with their uncanny ability to address the need for a robust NFL nose tackle. I truly never expected the Los Angeles Chargers to lose veteran NT Poona Ford to the 2025 NFL Free Agency market. And if Ford can deliver anywhere close to expectations, I hope that the Rams do not make the same mistake.

Despite entering his eighth NFL season, and coming out of successive one-year stints with the Buffalo Bills and the Los Angeles Chargers, veteran NT Poona Ford whet his NFL teeth by playing his first five seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. And his NFL career has found him filling any defensive lineman position. But for the Rams defense, he will be a dominating nose tackle.

Ford is small but mighty. He stands 5-foot-11 but weighs an impressive 310 pounds. He has a reputation as a solid run-stuffer at nose tackle, but he can also deliver a sneakily effective pass rush as well. Last season, he recorded 3.0 quarterback sacks as a nose tackle who played 604 defensive snaps.

Ford means business on the football field. He not only recorded 39 tackles and eight tackles for a loss, but he also deflected five passes and even claimed an interception in 2024. In many cases, defenses are content to settle for a nose tackle who simply cannot be moved off the ball. But in Poona Ford, the Rams have landed a truly capable defensive weapon who can pressure and throttle opposing quarterbacks directly out of the A-gap.

The Rams pass rush was okay last season. The same pass rush was elite in the NFL Playoffs. Now, how good can it be in 2025? If the roster additions and OTAs are any indication, you'll want plenty of popcorn for the show this year. As always, thanks for reading.

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