Aaron Donald

Aaron Donald Skips Rams OTAs

May 21st, 2018 at 11:27am CST by Zachary Links

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald has informed the team that he will not be in attendance for Organized Team Activities on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Donald, of course, is still pushing for a new contract, and his absence from OTAs is no coincidence.

On the plus side, the Rams remain optimistic about hammering out a new deal with the three-time First-Team All-Pro. While Donald will not be with the club for their voluntary workouts this week, Rams head coach Sean McVay has been texting with Donald, and he says the line communication is stronger than last summer.

“He’s responding more than he was at this time last year, so that’s what I feel good about,”said McVay.

Given that Donald has been an elite player in each of his four NFL seasons, it seems likely that he’ll top Von Miller‘s $19.083MM average annual value, making him the highest-paid defender in league history. The Rams are aware of what it will take to lock him up, but they also have to be careful not to blow their budget with several other stars due for new deals. That group includes running back Todd Gurley and cornerback Marcus Peters as both players are due for unrestricted free agency after the 2019 season.

Last year, Donald amassed eleven sacks, five forced fumbles, and 41 total tackles playing mostly from the interior. Opposing teams will have their hands full as they deal with a defensive line unit that includes Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Michael Brockers, Ethan Westbrooks, and Dominique Easley in the rotation.

Rams Optimistic On Aaron Donald Extension

May 16th, 2018 at 7:20pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Rams are remaining optimistic in regard to a potential extension for All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald, but there is “still a ways to go” before an agreement is reached, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link). Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay has been texting with Donald, and the results have been positive, as he relayed to Andrew Siciliano of NFL.com (Twitter link). “He’s responding more than he was at this time last year, so that’s what I feel good about,” said McVay.

Donald, 26, is heading into the final year of his contract, during which he will earn just $6.892MM under the terms of his fifth-year option. After staging a holdout in 2017, Donald has not indicated whether he’ll employ the same strategy this season. But talks between Donald and the Rams don’t seem to be tinged by any sort of acrimony, as evidenced both by McVay’s recent comments and Los Angeles’ admission that Donald will likely become the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL.

At present, the highest-paid defender in the league is Broncos edge rusher Von Miller, who collects $19.083MM annually. Among interior defenders, the Eagles’ Fletcher Cox leads the way at $17.1MM per season, but Donald figures to blow by that mark and instead target Miller’s annual value. Indeed, it’s entirely possible — and perhaps even likely — that Donald will become the first defensive player to cross the $20MM/year threshold.

Donald, of course, has made a strong argument for his next contract by playing as the league’s best defender for some time. Donald, the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, has earned Pro Bowl nods in each of his four pro campaigns, and was named a first-team All-Pro from 2015-17. Last season, Donald not only led the league in total pressures, but also tied for the best rate of pressure on a per-rate basis, tweets Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus, indicating Donald’s incredible level of efficiency.

West Rumors: Raiders, Bradford, Donald

April 19th, 2018 at 8:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

Although the Raiders have signed a slew of veterans in free agency this year, they are still in need of help at linebacker. And they may be hoping a run on quarterbacks helps bring Roquan Smith to them at No. 10. They may not be willing to trade up for the Georgia-honed linebacker, however.

“Roquan Smith is the guy. I don’t know that they would be willing to give away additional picks later to go up and get him, but he’s the guy they want,” ESPN’s Todd McShay said, via Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle. “… There’s a lot of love for Roquan Smith in that building.”

While NaVorro Bowman has been connected to the Raiders for months as a re-sign candidate, he remains a free agent. The Silver and Black signed Tahir Whitehead, and he’ll likely start at one of their second-level spots, with Kyle Wilber and Emmanuel Lamur in line to supply depth. But a long-term cog looks to be on the agenda as this draft approaches. The Raiders have not selected a first- or second-round linebacker who plays off the ball during the Reggie McKenzie regime, with Rolando McClain (Round 1, 2010) being the most recent such investment. Of course, McKenzie ceded some power to Jon Gruden this offseason.

However, the 49ers are a possible Smith suitor as well — with Reuben Foster facing possible prison time and Malcolm Smith coming off a season-ending injury — and met with Smith this week. He also visited with the Colts and Bears, each holding top-eight picks, in April.

Here’s the latest from the West divisions:

McShay’s also heard Tremaine Edmunds and Vita Vea‘s names linked to the Raiders. With four quarterbacks possibly set to go off the board before the Silver and Black’s selection window opens, they could have their pick of these three prospects.
While the Cardinals are going to ease Sam Bradford into action this offseason, Steve Wilks likes the early form the would-be starter is in. “I didn’t see anything (bad) out of his knee. Not one thing,” Wilks said, via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. “Nothing is wrong with his knee. I thought he threw the ball well, ball-handling, he handed the ball off, rolled out, bootleg, all those things. He’s doing everything we ask him to do. We just want to make sure we don’t put too much on him too soon.” Bradford wore a brace on his troublesome left knee early in the week before shifting to a sleeve, per Urban.
Sean McVay is encouraged by the early dialogue the Rams are having with Aaron Donald. The team did not expect Donald, a holdout until September last year, to report to the first phase of its offseason program as he seeks a landscape-altering contract. “We feel good about the dialogue that has existed,” McVay said this week. “This is a voluntary offseason program with where we’re at. You know he’s a guy who’s going to work hard on his off-time, and that’s kind of where we’re at.” The Rams sound like they’re on the verge of authorizing a record contract for the reigning defensive player of the year.
Maurice Hurst visited the Raiders on Monday, Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. Adding the Raiders are “hell bent” on strengthening their interior pass rush, which has been a trouble spot for a while now, Bair identifies the Michigan defensive tackle as a candidate for Oakland’s Round 1 choice it the team trades down from its No. 10 slot.
Foster’s in a world of trouble for an alleged domestic violence incident earlier this year, facing three felony charges, but the 49ers linebacker saw a misdemeanor charge dropped this week. Foster won’t face a charge for the possession of a large-capacity ammunition magazine, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office announced (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle).

Extra Points: Smith, Manziel, Rams

April 14th, 2018 at 12:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from around the NFL…

Former Raiders and 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith is “being transferred to an inpatient substance abuse treatment center as he awaits his next court date” (via ESPN.com). Smith was arrested last week after violating the conditions of his monitoring. The “order for Smith to remain in custody in rehab” is indefinite, according to a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorney’s office. Last month, Smith pleaded not guilty to domestic violence charges following a March incident. The Raiders still released the trouble defender soon after the initial arrest.
The CFL could provide quarterback Johnny Manziel with a path back to the NFL, but Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that the transition wouldn’t be immediate. A source told the reporter that the CFL won’t “soften” the rule that requires a two-year commitment from their players, meaning if Manziel joined the league, he wouldn’t be able to sign with an NFL team until at least 2020. Florio writes that the quarterback could shift his focus to the Alliance of American Football, a spring league that is set to launch in 2019.
In an interview with TheRams.com, recently-acquired cornerback Aqib Talib explained why he wanted to be traded to the Rams. “Well, I’m in the later half of my career and I just wanted to be comfortable,” Talib said. “Wherever I went, I wanted to be comfortable and there was no time in the NFL where I was more comfortable playing football than with Wade Phillips. He’s like a guru at putting guys in position to succeed. So if I was going to go somewhere I wanted to be comfortable and I’m definitely comfortable here in L.A.”
The Rams are already working on a new deal with Aaron Donald, and general manager Les Snead acknowledged that the defensive tackle will ultimately make more than new teammate Ndamukong Suh. “The nice thing about Ndamukong,” Snead said during an appearance on The MMQB Podcast with Peter King (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com), “at age 31 and somebody who’s been the highest-paid defensive player in football, winning was very important in this phase of his career…He’s well aware that when you can partner, be beside someone who is on the verge of being the highest-paid defensive player in football, then that’s a really good thing. I guess you’d say two is better than one.”

Rams Notes: Donald, Watkins, Johnson

January 13th, 2018 at 8:43pm CST by Micah Powell

The Rams’ offseason plans hinge greatly on getting an extension done with All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald. However, team general manager Les Snead will not specify if he is the “first or last domino to fall,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez writes.

“What I do know is he is an important domino,” Snead said. It is likely Donald will become the highest-paid defender at some point this offseason, and the signing will dictate much of what the Rams can do with the rest of their salary cap.

Gonzalez also notes that a deal might have to wait until after Oakland resigns Khalil Mack for talks to begin to get serious. One of the frontrunners for 2017 Defensive Player of the Year, Donald is set to make $6.89MM in 2018, which is half of what Mack, who was taken eight spots higher than him in the 2014 NFL Draft, is expected to make.

Whenever Donald does ink a deal, there is no doubt he will be worth the pay raise. In his four seasons, the Pitt product has earned four Pro Bowl selections and has been named First Team All-Pro in each of the last three seasons. In 2017, Donald tied his career high with 11 sacks and furthered his reputation as the game’s top interior pass rusher.

Here is more from the Rams:

Gonzalez writes that using a franchise or transition tag on Sammy Watkins makes sense. Acquired by the Rams prior to the start of the 2017 campaign, Watkins provided a decent season eight touchdown grabs but only saw 67 targets. Another year in the high-powered offense will allow the fourth-year wideout to reach his potential after developing a better rapport with quarterback Jared Goff. The Rams traded a 2018 second-round pick and E.J. Gaines to the Bills for Watkins, and it would make sense they would want to see their investment for a full year in their system.
Snead can definitely see a scenario in which Trumaine Johnson returns to the team in 2018, Gonzalez reports. With Kayvon Webster out with an Achilles injury, it would make sense for the Rams to explore all options with the sixth-year cornerback. Gonzalez notes they would have to pay him like a top cornerback.
If Donald gets an extension, Watkins and Lamarcus Joyner are tagged, and Johnson is resigned, Gonzales thinks the team would look at parting with Robert Quinn or Mark Barron to make ends meet.

Rams To Start Aaron Donald Vs. Redskins

September 15th, 2017 at 3:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The perceived Aaron Donald-acclimation period will not keep him out of any more Rams games. Sean McVay said Friday the two-time All-Pro will start Sunday against the Redskins after reporting to the team six days ago.

While McVay didn’t provide clarity on Donald’s role as a full- or part-time player in his first game back — and first in a new defense — the Rams will have their top player suited up and ready to help the team push for its first 2-0 start since its 2001 Super Bowl season.

Donald remains without an extension but has procured an insurance policy. He’s making less than $2MM in base salary in this his fourth season.

Reports out of Los Angeles indicated Donald may sit for at least one game in order to shake off rust and feel comfortable in Wade Phillips‘ defense, but it looks like he’ll be doing that while playing. Donald’s landed on the top All-Pro team in each of his past two seasons, and while he’s going to be playing in a 3-4 base set for the first time, the three technique stands to provide a significant talent boost for the Los Angeles defense.

Rams DT Aaron Donald Has Insurance Policy

September 10th, 2017 at 7:59pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Although he’s reported to the Rams and intends to play this season, defensive tackle Aaron Donald is still without a long-term contract. However, Donald has “more than ample insurance” that will protect him in the event of an injury, sources tell Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Los Angeles is aware that any Donald contract will need to set a new standard for defenders, and Donald’s insurance policy could make him even more inclined to reject any offer he deems unworthy. Of course, the Rams also hold leverage over Donald, as he’s under team control through 2018 at a total cost of roughly $10MM thanks to the fifth-year option. Los Angeles could then deploy the franchise tag in 2019.

Donald, 26, has been absolutely dominant since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2014. A two-time All-Pro, Donald has managed 28 sacks during his three years in the NFL, an astonishing total for a defensive tackle. Donald, who played 828 snaps a season ago, graded as the league’s No. 1 interior defender, according to Pro Football Focus, which awarded him a 99.0 mark for his pass-rushing prowess.

NFC Notes: Elliott, Reed, Saints

September 10th, 2017 at 11:56am CST by Rory Parks

As we get prepared for the first slate of Sunday games in 2017, let’s take a quick swing around the NFC:

Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott was granted a temporary restraining order against the NFL, thereby putting his six-game suspension on hold and allowing him to be available for the remainder of the season while his case is sorted out. However, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the NFL is considering appealing that restraining order and is still discussing the matter with its attorneys.
The toe injury that has been ailing Redskins TE Jordan Reed is actually a fracture in his big toe that impacts the way he runs, and he will be battling that injury for at least the early part of the season, as Rapoport writes. Reed is one of the most talented tight ends in the league, but he has yet to play a full 16-game season.
The Eagles have returned the 2019 seventh-round selection they received from the Saints in the Jon Dorenbos trade in light of Dorenbos’ need for heart surgery and his release from New Orleans via injury settlement, as Howard Eskin of 94 WIP reports (via Twitter).
Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro is eligible for unrestricted free agency next offseason, but Josh Katzenstein of the Times-Picayune does not expect the two sides to agree to an extension during the season. He still believes they will reach a long-term deal at some point next year, but as Vaccaro’s value is up for debate, the team may prefer to see how he performs in 2017 before making a big commitment to him.
Rams head coach Sean McVay was a key figure in getting star DT Aaron Donald to end his holdout, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Rather than traveling with the team to Green Bay for the Rams’ final preseason game, McVay went to Atlanta with Rams executives to meet with Donald’s representatives, and his presence underscored how important Donald was to McVay and to Los Angeles. It also helped to facilitate dialogue between the two sides.
Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com believes the Lions will wait to see if any of their young talent along the defensive line breaks out before going after an established veteran. Detroit’s pass rush is currently suspect at best, but the team could be hesitant to make a move until next week because if a veteran signs before the first game, his salary is guaranteed for the year. Plus, it’s not as though the free agent market is currently brimming with DL talent, as former Lions Wallace Gilberry and Darryl Tapp are among the best players available.

Latest On Aaron Donald’s Rams Status

September 9th, 2017 at 5:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Donald will miss Sunday’s Colts game after reporting to the Rams on Saturday, and it’s not a lock the All-Pro defender returns for Week 2 against the Redskins. The Rams won’t automatically redeploy Donald until he’s ready, Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk reports. Although it would be borderline shocking if Donald missed three games, he does have barely a week to integrate into Wade Phillips‘ 3-4 system if he wants to suit up for Week 2.

Smith notes the Rams are prepared to sit Donald in Weeks 2 and 3 if it comes to that, whatever amount of time he needs to get up to speed. Regardless if he plays or not, the Rams will be paying him his $106K-plus game checks, per Smith, who adds that stipulation was a key factor in Donald reporting. The Rams travel to face the 49ers for a Thursday-night game in Week 3, and Smith writes it’s not out of the question it takes until Week 4 — a road trip to Dallas — before Rams fans see Donald back in uniform.

However, the 26-year-old dynamo stayed in shape while working out in Pittsburgh, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, who does not expect Donald’s acclimation process to Phillips’ scheme to take long. He expects the fourth-year star on the field in Week 2.

Here’s the latest coming out of Los Angeles on the Donald front.

The Rams asked the NFL for a roster exemption to add Donald today and not to have to cut anyone in doing so, thus having a 54-man team — per Rich Hammond of the Orange County Register, on Twitter. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweets the Rams received the exemption, and Donald is on board as the team’s 54th player. Los Angeles will need to make a roster move after Week 1 to trim the active unit down to 53.
Still holding the leverage, the Rams did not relent in the Donald impasse. Gonzalez noted earlier this week the team understands a Donald extension will need to make him the NFL’s highest-paid defensive player, but Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News notes (on Twitter) the team has a limit to how far it will go. Making Donald the league’s richest defender will mean the Rams will have to approach or surpass the $20MM-AAV barrier.
A Donald deal occurring soon should make him the league’s first defender to secure a $20MM-per-year pact with $50MM fully guaranteed at signing, Joel Corry of CBS Sports tweets. Von Miller and Ndamukong Suh are the league’s only $19MM-AAV defenders, and Donald being two years younger than Miller would stand to raise the ceiling. And Corry doesn’t believe the regular season starting closes the window (Twitter link). The Rams signed both Robert Quinn and Michael Brockers shortly after their respective 2014 and 2016 seasons began. Both Quinn and Brockers signed their extensions between Weeks 1-2. The 2017 Rams, though, hold the least amount of cap space in football.
The Rams agreeing to waive Donald’s fines — which would have approached $1.5MM, or nearly his entire 2017 base salary — represents a win for the all-world interior defender, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk writes. While both Odell Beckham and Khalil Mack attended their teams’ training camps as top-tier members of the 2014 first round, each suffered an injury. And Beckham is questionable to play for the Giants on Sunday night. Florio expects Donald, barring a 2017 extension, to consider taking the same approach next year as a result of his team’s actions. Florio also anticipates members of the 2015 first round who don’t receive extensions prior to their fourth training camps to consider following Donald’s lead.

Aaron Donald Reports To Rams

September 9th, 2017 at 1:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Donald reported to the Rams on Saturday and passed a physical, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk (on Twitter).

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets the All-Pro defensive lineman will not play on Sunday against the Colts, and Florio adds (via Twitter) Donald may not be ready to play in Week 2.

The Rams waived all fines (up to $1.48MM) that could have been levied against Donald for missing more than a month’s worth of practices throughout the preseason, Florio tweets, adding that he’ll now be paid for Week 1 as well. Donald reporting Saturday also prevented missing out on a forfeiture of a signing bonus payment of $711K, Florio notes.

This progress display from both sides does not mean an extension agreement’s occurred. Schefter notes (on Twitter) no such accord’s been reached, but the Rams and Donald will keep trying as he enters his fourth season — and first of extension eligibility. Essentially, Donald lost no significant money for missing out on six-plus weeks’ worth of work and in training independently incurred less risk of an injury that would have potentially damaged his value.

The 26-year-old Donald is under Rams contract for two more seasons but will only make $1.8MM in base salary this year. The incredibly team-friendly agreement induced the holdout, but Donald will now no longer risk losing $106K weekly by being absent from the team. He spent this week on the east coast after speaking with Rams management about an extension in Atlanta last week. After said meeting, a Donald deal — which the Rams understand will need to set a new standard for a defensive player — was “not close.”

Sunday’s game against the Colts in Los Angeles will feature much less star power than it would have under optimal circumstances, with Andrew Luck out as well.

Donald will now begin work in Wade Phillips‘ new 3-4 scheme, which calls for the 6-foot-1 superstar to play defensive end when the Rams deploy base sets. He’s lined up at three technique since emerging as a force his rookie season, and while he still stands to play at that spot frequently, there’s likely some systemic intel to absorb before he makes his 2017 debut in either Week 2 (against the Redskins) or Week 3 (against the 49ers).

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