Nate Landman
Getty
LA Rams LB Nate Landman
The Los Angeles Rams made it to the 2025 NFC Divisional round before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, 22-28.
Now looking to make their way back to the playoffs and attempt to return to the Super Bowl after winning the 2022-23 season.
The Rams made key additions to the roster to help, including signing three-time All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Davante Adams, selecting tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and retaining backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.
These additions can help the Rams, but one NFL writer lists a few newcomers who can make the team complete. The Athletic’s Nate Atkins lists three Rams defensive acquisitions who can change the game for the team in the 2025-26 season.
Two Free Agent Signings
Poona Ford
GettyLos Angeles Rams defensive tackle Poona Ford
The LA Rams’ big acquisition on the defensive side of the ball is nose tackle Poona Ford, who signed a three-year, $27.6 million contract. Ford last played for the crosstown rival, the Los Angeles Chargers.
The nose tackle tied his career high of 8 sacks last season for the Bolts, while recording 39 tackles.
“An eighth-year run-stuffer, which filled a need for [the] Rams… Ford brings a specific fit as a two-gapping player who thrives in a limited role,” Atkins wrote. “As a shorter penetrator at 5-foot-11 and 310 pounds who thrives on a low center of gravity, Ford isn’t the type of nose tackle who can’t be on the field on passing downs.”
“His style can fit a tandem… who create the pass rush around him.”
The second player Atkins names is linebacker Nate Landman, who made the game-saving fumble in Week 1 against the Houston Texans.
“[Landman] arrived on a free-agent deal from the Atlanta Falcons to replace Christian Rozeboom at middle linebacker and solidify a run defens,” Atkins wrote. “But he flew under the radar across the league, settling for a one-year deal for the veteran minimum at $1.1 million.”
“Now, he’s the player wearing the “green dot” for the Rams. It’s a leadership role that could stress a new player’s fit on a defense with high expectations. But instead of playing his first game safely and avoiding mistakes, he was stripping and punching at the ball just like he had in practice.”
Defensive Back Claimed Off Waivers
Emmanuel Forbes
GettyEmmanuel Forbes was drafted by the Washington Commanders
The third player on Nate Atkins’ list is cornerback Emmanuel Forbes, whom the Los Angeles Rams picked up off the waiver wire last season.
Forbes has made three appearances for the Rams, but was able to receive the second-most snaps at the cornerback spot for LA.
The cornerback started for the Rams in Week 1 and was able to impress, as he shadowed wide receiver Nico Collins and held him to 25 receiving yards.
“The reason the Rams were willing to start Forbes… comes down to fit and progress. The weakness that had haunted Forbes’ young career to this point had been tackling… But it’s something he’s working at, and he showed progress Sunday,” Atkins wrote.
The defense was able to hold the Texans, who averaged. 21.9 points per game last season, to just 9 points.
With the defense still settling in with the new acquisitions and their performance against Houston, the Rams’ defense appears to be better than last season’s.