PFF Grades: Jonah Jackson passes audition for his potential next team

Rams free agent signing of Jonah Jackson hasn’t worked out, but he played well in Week 18

Week 18’s matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks felt a bit like a preseason game. The Rams were without several key starters and plugged in backups that don’t normally see the field much. Still, LA was able to stay in the game until the final moments—giving Seattle’s starters all they could handle.

Who stood out according to Pro Football Focus (PFF)?

Top five grades on offense:

1 – Jonah Jackson, RG: 91.8

LA signed Jackson in the early going of free agency. He was supposed to join a formidable interior offensive line group that also included Steve Avila and Kevin Dotson. Avila entered training camp as the starting center, but late into the preseason the Rams elected to move Jackson inside. Injuries caused LA to shuffle their lineup early in the regular season, though by Week 11 Jackson lost his job at center to rookie Beaux Limmer. The Rams didn’t know they’d find one of the steals of the NFL Draft in Limmer when they signed Jackson, but still it’s unexpected that a prized free agent signing could lose his job to a late round rookie.

Jackson will probably play for a team other than the Rams in 2025 and this was his audition to prove that he’s still capable. He was LA’s highest-graded player on offense and earned an impressive run blocking grade of 91.6.

Will this game help LA move on from Jackson and possibly drive up the cost to acquire the veteran lineman?

2 – Jordan Whittington, WR: 81.8

Whittington played 31 snaps and caught three of four targets for 86 yards (long of 50). He also added two rushes for 12 yards, coming up just short of 100 total yards on the day.

The rookie receiver finished with the Rams’ highest receiving grade on the day at 85.2. 72 of his 86 receiving yards came after the catch.

If you’re wondering why we don’t see Whittington in the offensive lineup more often, PFF dinged him in run blocking with a grade of just 37.8.

3 – Warren McClendon, RT: 75.6

Fans found it curious that Joe Noteboom started at right tackle in place of injured Rob Havenstein last week against the Arizona Cardinals. Noteboom was clearly the weak link on the offensive line in that game on a day where the passing game looked disjointed overall for the Rams.

With Havenstein still injured and Noteboom shifting over to left tackle to fill in for Alaric Jackson (rest day), McClendon stepped in at right tackle and played admirably. McClendon allowed only a single pressure on a day where the OL allowed 20 total.

4 – Steve Avila, LG: 72.7

Avila received positive marks from PFF in the run game with a grade of 78.8; however, he seemed to struggle in pass protection. His grade in that facet was 50.5 and he allowed four pressures, which was tied for second-most on the OL with Noteboom.

5 – Joe Noteboom, LT: 71.7

Noteboom is slated to hit free agency. He was re-signed as the heir to Andrew Whitworth. While that hasn’t materialized, his ability to step in at either tackle or guard position on a moment’s notice is still important. This was easily his best outing on the season so far. He graded out about the same in the run and pass games, but allowed four pressures in protection.

Other notes on offense:

Jimmy Garoppolo was LA’s sixth-highest graded player on offense at 70.8, just missing the top five. He dropped back 45 times and was under pressure on 20 occasions (45% pressure rate). Playing quarterback at that level is extremely difficult, and Garoppolo managed it as well as you could expect for someone with limited mobility. The Rams called screens at a frequency higher than we normally see from them (ADOT of just 4.8 yards), but this was likely a product of the pressure and a backup supporting cast.

Garoppolo completed 27 of 41 passes (65.9%) for 334 yards, two TD’s, and an INT. PFF credited him with one big-time throw and one turnover-worthy play. Rams receivers were blamed for two drops. The QB was sacked three times.

Rookie offensive lineman Dylan McMahon allowed six pressures in pass protection. He also drew a penalty flag. This was his NFL debut.

Top five grades on defense:

1 – Jake Hummel, MLB: 88.5

As a standout in preseason games, Hummel has a reputation as being a better coverage player than run stopper. I’d argue that coverage skills at off-ball linebacker are more valuable than plugging gaps.

That reputation seemed accurate in this game, as Hummel earned a coverage grade of 83.9 and a run defense grade of 77.9 (still strong). He was targeted twice, allowing just one catch for four yards and a passer rating of 56.3. Hummel made three stops.

2 – Desjuan Johnson, DE: 72.1

Braden Fiske led the defense in pressures with three on just 11 total snaps. Johnson recorded a pressure (sack) and played 26 snaps himself.

3 – Jared Verse, OLB: 70.8

Verse played 11 snaps, similar to Fiske. He recorded two pressures which ranked in front of all Rams defenders other than his former Florida State teammate.

4 – Cobie Durant, CB: 68.1

While he did allow a touchdown reception to Jake Bobo on a play where he had tight coverage, Durant otherwise played well in this game. He was targeted twice, giving up just one reception for four yards and the aforementioned TD. He also recorded a PBU.

5 – Josh Wallace, CB: 67.4

Wallace played 30 snaps. He allowed receptions on all four targets as the nearest defender in coverage for 20 yards (18 after the catch) and a passer rating of 87.5. Wallace made five tackles and recorded two run stops.

Other notes on defense:

Veteran CB Ahkello Witherspoon was the lowest-graded player on defense at 33.6. He played just 13 snaps (seven in coverage) and allowed receptions on all three of his targets for 43 yards, a touchdown, and a perfect passer rating of 158.3.