Rams Defense Ranks as One of the Worst in NFL

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Taylor Hartman | Last updated Jun 16, 2025 7:56 PM ET

The Los Angeles Rams’ defense is facing serious concerns heading into the 2025 season, as Pro Football Network ranks them among the worst in the NFL. Despite a promising young core, Los Angeles still has major holes on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in the secondary and linebacker positions.

PFN’s Defense+ metric projects the Rams to have the No. 24 defense in the league, just ahead of the Dallas Cowboys. This marks the third straight season that Los Angeles has finished in the bottom 10 defensively, raising questions about whether the team has done enough to fix its issues.

“That’s now three straight bottom-10 Defense+ seasons for the Rams, and there isn’t much help for an instant fix,” PFN’s Kyle Soppe wrote. “Aaron Donald isn’t returning, and Los Angeles used just one pick in the first four rounds on this side of the ball.”

The Rams’ defensive front remains a strength, with Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Byron Young, and Kobie Turner forming a formidable pass-rushing unit. However, the secondary and inside linebacker positions remain glaring weaknesses. The team added Poona Ford and Nate Landman, along with two rookies, but those moves alone won’t be enough to transform the defense overnight.

Los Angeles managed to win 10 games last season, despite its defensive struggles, but PFN warns that this weakness could significantly cap the team’s ceiling again in 2025.

“The Rams overcame this flaw and won 10 games the previous season. This weakness caps their ceiling in a significant way, and it projects to be the case again over the next six months,” Soppe added.

With training camp approaching, the Rams will need to find answers quickly if they hope to compete at a high level. While the offense remains strong, the defense will have to step up if Los Angeles wants to make a deep playoff run.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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