Rams Sign Defensive Tackle Poona Ford To Three-Year Contract

The Los Angeles Rams have had a busy start to free agency, locking down Matthew Stafford, Jimmy Garoppolo, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell and Alaric Jackson to kick off

All of those moves were on the offensive side of the ball, so the Rams still have some needs to address on defense.

One of those needs is on the interior defensive line, and it appears L.A. has found its man. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Rams are signing defensive tackle Poona Ford to a lucrative three-year contract:

Defensive lineman Poona Ford and the Rams have agreed to terms on a three-year deal just under $30M with $17M guaranteed, per sources.

Ford spent the first five seasons of his career with the Seattle Seahawks after going undrafted out of Texas. He then spent a season with the Buffalo Bills and then had a career year with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.

In 17 games with the Chargers last season, the 29-year-old had 38 total tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks. He is known to be a run stuffer, but the Rams believe their is some untapped potential there when it comes to rushing the passer as well.

With the addition of Ford, the Rams have one of the better defensive lines in the league as he will join a group that includes Jared Verse, Byron Young, Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske. That group really came on in the second half of the 2024 season and should be even better in 2025.

Matthew Stafford excited to be back with Rams

After agreeing to a restructured contract, Matthew Stafford expressed his excitement to return to the Rams.

“I’m excited to be back,” Stafford said. “I’m excited to be able to do things like this in a community that I’ve been in for four years now and hopefully will continue to be in for a long time. I’m definitely excited for the opportunity not only to play and do all that but to get involved and really start figuring out places and things I can do to give back.”