Signing Poona Ford in free agency as a replacement for Bobby Brown is among the best one-for-one upgrades in the NFL this season. Ford has elevated the Los Angeles Rams defense and is playing a major role in the team’s success in 2025.
Ford and Brown are diverging in 2025
These are the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades and metrics for Ford and Brown through Week 6. The Rams must feel positively about their decision to let Brown walk in free agency and sign with the Carolina Panthers.
Poona Ford
- Ranks 6th among DT’s in overall grade (85.3)
- 4th in run defense (83.0)
- 69.1 pass rushing grade (11 pressures)
- Exact same overall grade as he posted last season with LA Chargers
Bobby Brown
- Ranks 97th in overall grade (55.4)
- 64th in run defense (58.8)
- 49.6 pass rushing grade (3 pressures)
- On pace for the lowest overall grade of his career
How Ford is elevating Rams defense
After watching Saquon Barkley rip off long runs against the Rams at his will last season, LA’s run defense has taken a major step forward and slowed star running backs often. These are the rushing totals for the best rushers they’ve faced so far. The Jacksonville Jaguars also have a formidable run game led by speedsters in Travis Etienne and Bhayshul Tuten.
Week 3 vs Saquon Barkley
18 rushes for 46 yards (2.6 average)
Barkley is averaging 54 yards per game in 2025.
Week 4 vs Jonathan Taylor
17 rushes for 76 yards (4.5 average)
Taylor is averaging 101 yards per game in 2025 and has seven TD’s.
Week 5 vs Christian McCaffrey
22 rushes for 57 yards (2.6 average)
McCaffrey is averaging 56 yards per game.
Week 6 vs Derrick Henry
24 rushes for 122 yards (5.1 average)
Henry is averaging 73 yards per game. Rams were his second highest yardage total on the season. He has four games at 50 yards or under.
Overall thoughts
While the games against Barkley and McCaffrey seemed impressive at the time, it’s fair to say that the running games for the Eagles and 49ers are not nearly as potent as they’ve been in recent years. Both teams are struggling along the interior of the offensive line, though the Rams deserve credit for keeping them down.
LA’s effort against Henry is concerning, though the Ravens had minimal production through the air and were likely challenging Cooper Rush to beat them (he did not).
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