Poona Ford signed with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason on a three-year, $27.6 million contract. It was one of the more controversial moves of the LA Chargers' offseason after he had produced at a high level last year. With 23 pressures, three sacks, and 21 run stops last season, Ford had what was easily his most productive campaign since 2021.
While they let Ford walk, the Chargers added players in free agency to shore up the defensive line room in his absence. They extended midseason acquisition Teair Tart after some impressive 2024 performances with the team.
Da'Shawn Hand and Naquan Jones were acquired for relatively cheap deals in free agency. They continued to add in the 2025 NFL Draft after selecting Oregon DT Jamaree Caldwell in the third round.
Asked about how the team would replace Ford in 2025, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter cited the newfound depth at the position.
"In a lot of positions we traded maybe one or two guys for two or three guys when you look at it," Minter explained. "There is a little bit of the committee approach."
Chargers are confident they can replace Poona Ford with a strength-in-numbers approach
Minter added that it was a similar process at this time last season. "You were kinda hoping somebody would emerge, but it was a little bit going into the year by committee," Minter admitted. "And then that stuff sort of takes care of itself based on a guy getting in a rhythm, getting in a groove, playing really well."
The strength in numbers approach appears to be what Minter is ultimately banking on for the 2025 campaign.
"Maybe there's more total, capable guys than we had at this time last year and let it all shake out," Minter claimed. "That's really kinda how I feel about the D-Line."
Pass rush pressure will be something the Chargers have to recreate in the aggregate. Ford's pass rush influence as noted earlier was an obvious talking point, but the team also lost DT Morgan Fox.
Per PFF charting, Fox and Ford combined for 52 pass rush pressures last year. In trading those "one or two guys for two to three guys," as Minter said, there will be pressure on the new crop of defensive tackles to be able to get to the quarterback.
Minter made some miracles with a DT group that didn't look as potent on paper heading into the season last year. He'll look to recreate some of his 2024 success with the new players they've brought in this season.