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Last offseason, the Los Angeles Rams saw an opportunity to upgrade their defensive line. Letting Bobby Brown III leave in free agency, they set their sights on a quality replacement in Poona Ford. The difference was substantial.
Ford is not only one of the best run-stopping nose tackles in football, but he also brings some pass-rushing ability to the middle of the defensive line. He's now entering his second season with the team and should continue to have a sizable impact up front alongside Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske.
He's No. 17 on our list of the Rams' most important players for 2026.
Early in free agency last year, the Rams gave Ford the largest contract of his career – and the first with any sort of long-term security since his rookie deal in 2018. It was for three years with a total value of $27.6 million, including $17.1 million guaranteed. It was a commitment to fixing a weak spot on the defensive line, adding a proven talent to take the place of Brown.
17 games (10 starts): 47 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, 1 batted pass
Ford is in no danger of losing his starting spot at nose tackle, even after the addition of Tim Keenan III in the draft this year. Ford is coming off one of his best seasons, earning the fourth-highest grade (86.1) of any interior defender in the NFL last year. With his ability to rush the quarterback from the interior, he's able to stay on the field for all three downs – unless it's a clear passing situation where the Rams want to get more speed on the field.
He's a perfect complement to Fiske and Turner, using his big body to eat up space and allow them to win their one-on-one matchups.
Ford's 86.1 overall grade last season was his best since his rookie year (88.2) and it was in more than double the snaps. He had a career-best 34 pressures and 33 stops, performing well as a run defender and pass rusher.
When the Rams had Brown in the middle of their defensive line, they got very little production from the nose tackle position. He had just three total pressures (not a typo) in 230 pass-rush snaps compared to Ford's 34 pressures on 342 pass-rush opportunities.
That difference is staggering and there's no question it had a positive impact on the defense as a whole. The worst source of pressure for a quarterback is up the middle, and that's where Ford does his damage. He can flush the quarterback from the pocket and into the waiting arms of the Rams' edge rushers, even if he's not the one to record the sack himself.
And more importantly, his ability to clog up the middle when teams run the ball forces ball carriers to bounce outside and dance behind the line of scrimmage.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 26 most important players for 2026 – No. 17: NT Poona Ford
Continue reading...
Ford is not only one of the best run-stopping nose tackles in football, but he also brings some pass-rushing ability to the middle of the defensive line. He's now entering his second season with the team and should continue to have a sizable impact up front alongside Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske.
He's No. 17 on our list of the Rams' most important players for 2026.
How he got here
Early in free agency last year, the Rams gave Ford the largest contract of his career – and the first with any sort of long-term security since his rookie deal in 2018. It was for three years with a total value of $27.6 million, including $17.1 million guaranteed. It was a commitment to fixing a weak spot on the defensive line, adding a proven talent to take the place of Brown.
2025 stats
17 games (10 starts): 47 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 5 QB hits, 1 batted pass
Projected role
Ford is in no danger of losing his starting spot at nose tackle, even after the addition of Tim Keenan III in the draft this year. Ford is coming off one of his best seasons, earning the fourth-highest grade (86.1) of any interior defender in the NFL last year. With his ability to rush the quarterback from the interior, he's able to stay on the field for all three downs – unless it's a clear passing situation where the Rams want to get more speed on the field.
He's a perfect complement to Fiske and Turner, using his big body to eat up space and allow them to win their one-on-one matchups.
One thing to know
Ford's 86.1 overall grade last season was his best since his rookie year (88.2) and it was in more than double the snaps. He had a career-best 34 pressures and 33 stops, performing well as a run defender and pass rusher.
Why he's important
When the Rams had Brown in the middle of their defensive line, they got very little production from the nose tackle position. He had just three total pressures (not a typo) in 230 pass-rush snaps compared to Ford's 34 pressures on 342 pass-rush opportunities.
That difference is staggering and there's no question it had a positive impact on the defense as a whole. The worst source of pressure for a quarterback is up the middle, and that's where Ford does his damage. He can flush the quarterback from the pocket and into the waiting arms of the Rams' edge rushers, even if he's not the one to record the sack himself.
And more importantly, his ability to clog up the middle when teams run the ball forces ball carriers to bounce outside and dance behind the line of scrimmage.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 26 most important players for 2026 – No. 17: NT Poona Ford
Continue reading...
