The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Los Angeles Rams and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Los Angeles Rams Defense
The Rams were not great against the run in 2024, finishing 24th in yards per attempt allowed to running backs (4.5) and 29th in negative runs forced against running backs (13.6%).
To be fair, they were not as bad as Saquon Barkley made them look, but it still was not surprising to see the Rams bolster their run defense by adding Poona Ford in free agency.
Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner will occupy the other starting spots along the line and focus on getting after the quarterback, which both did well in 2024.
The Rams lagged behind a bit in sacks, finishing with 38 (21st), but they ranked a better 17th in pressure rate (34.5%).
That result is surprising given how much they got from their defensive line and the success of Jared Verse in his rookie season.
Verse finished with just 4.5 sacks, but his 17.1% pressure rate ranked sixth among qualified pass rushers. That was just one spot behind Trey Hendrickson, who led the league in sacks a season ago.
Beyond that, Verse also made plays in the running game, leading the team with 13 run stuffs and getting a tackle on 17% of his run defense snaps.
Verse was the deserved Defensive Rookie of the Year.
A 2023 third-round pick, Byron Young had another good season on the other side, finishing with 7.5 sacks after 8 takedowns as a rookie.
The Rams will hope for another draft hit from third-round rookie Josaiah Stewart.
Christian Rozeboom left in free agency, leaving the Rams with a big hole to fill at linebacker.
They did bring back Troy Reeder, who was a starter to open the year before a hamstring injury ended his season.
Omar Speights made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2024, and he ended the season as a starter. They also added Nate Landman in free agency and Chris Paul Jr. in the draft.
The Rams did not do well against the pass in 2024, allowing 7.6 yards per attempt (25th), a 9.8% big play rate (29th), and a 5.4% touchdown rate (27th). They finished 28th in defensive EPA per pass.
Even so, the core group from a season ago is back after the Rams re-signed Ahkello Witherspoon in free agency. Witherspoon was essentially benched at one point last season, but he returned to the starting lineup and was even a starter for the playoff games.
Cobie Durant and Darious Williams were the other primary snap takers last year.
While he is technically a safety, Quentin Lake also helped out in the slot late in the season and perhaps should be listed with the corners. Either way, the Rams should get snaps for each of the top three at safety.
Kamren Curl signed a low-cost, two-year deal with the Rams last offseason, and he started every game aside from the meaningless season finale in his first year with the team.
Kamren Kinchens struggled to get on the field early in his rookie season, but he steadily earned more playing time and was on the field for nearly 80% of the defensive snaps in the playoffs.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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