Why DT Poona Ford is the ideal choice for the Rams early free agency signing

The Los Angeles Rams know that run defense is where it's at for upgrading this defense, and that is obvious to anyone. It is so obvious that I speculated that the first free agent signing as soon as the 'Negotiation Period,' opened at 9:00 am PT on March 10, 2025. And with that opportunity to improve the Rams roster, I speculated that the first non-Rams free agent to reach an agreement with the team would be veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. Allen is a veteran who had plenty of quality defensive snaps, lots of experience, and still possesses a respectable pass rush.

Only the Rams did not sign him. I had the right idea, hit the bullseye with the right position. I just missed the right player. Instead, the Rams have come to an agreement to add former Los Angeles Chargers defensive lineman Poona Ford on a three-year deal that comes in just under $30 million. That is less than $10 million APY, which is what the team shelled out for WR Tutu Atwell.

And he is going to be the type of blocker-gobbler, run stuffer in the Rams defense that fans will come to love pretty quickly.

If you had your heart set on the Rams getting a run-stuffing interior defensive lineman in free agency, you are going to fall in love with Poona Ford. The guy only stands 5-foot-11, but weighs in at a powerful 310 pounds of pure muscle. He comes to the Rams at 29 years old, with seven years of NFL experience under his belt. He played five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before playing for the Buffalo Bills in 2023.

He struggled with the Bills, only playing 152 defensive snaps. But he restored his reputation with a solid season as defensive tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024. It was that return to solid production in 2024 that interested the Rams. His Pro Football Focus run defense grade was 78.8, a huge positive. But he is more than just a strong man who sheds blockers at the line of scrimmage. This guy possesses a sneaky good pass rush as well.

In 2024, he put up 39 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, and 3.0 quarterback sacks. He is versatile enough to line up almost anywhere on the Rams defensive front and stop the run as well as pressure the quarterback.

Standing 5-foot-11, he is not someone you might think can dominate on the defensive line of scrimmage. But Poona Ford's muscles have muscles. He is incredibly strong, and with his height is able to generate incredible leverage and torque. After the Rams enjoyed such unbridled success with 6-foot-1 All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, the Rams are willing to roll the dice on defensive linemen of all sizes.

As the Rans are projected to lose NT Bobby Brown III, Larrell Murchison, and Neville Gallimore, Poona Ford is an excellent addition to the defense. He brings incredible run stuffing ability and enough of a pass to allow the Rams to play him in a solid rotational role.

If you want the Rams to shore up the run defense, you can sit back in your seats and breathe a sigh of relief. DT Poona Ford specializes in stopping the run.

Projected Grade for this signing: A+

As always, thanks for reading

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