Aaron Donald … thread for May

Rams optimistic on reaching deal with Aaron Donald

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000932977/article/rams-optimistic-on-reaching-deal-with-aaron-donald

The Los Angeles Rams have expressed optimism throughout the offseason that a deal would eventually get done with defensive lineman Aaron Donald.

General manager Les Snead told reporters on April 5 that the team has Donald “budgeted in the budget.”

During a media session on April 16, coach Sean McVay complimented what he categorized as “really good dialogue” with Donald, who enters the final year of his rookie contract on a fifth-year option.

Less than a month later, the Rams head coach once again highlighted the open lines of communication as a reason for hope that both sides will eventually come to an agreement.

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

The 6-foot, 280-pound Donald comes off a 2017 season where he totaled 41 tackles (32 solo), 11 sacks, five forced fumbles and a pass defensed en route to being named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Since entering the league as a 2014 first-round pick (13th overall) out of Pittsburgh, Donald has established himself as one of the league’s elite defensive linemen, totaling 205 tackles (148 solo), 57 sacks, nine forced fumbles and eight passes defensed in four seasons.

Given his production and what he means to one of the league’s top defensive units, the Rams would be wise to lock up Donald sooner than later or risk letting him reach free agency in 2019.

The Rams have made an effort this offseason to put together what they hope becomes a championship-caliber team. While taking care of Donald remains on the radar, the Rams have also added defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, cornerback Marcus Peters, cornerback Aqib Talib and wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

Aaron Donald headlines NFL’s top 10 defensive tackles for 2018

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000932759/article/aaron-donald-headlines-nfls-top-10-defensive-tackles-for-2018

The newest installment of NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players of 2018” continues at 8 p.m. ET on Monday. This episode will reveal the players ranked from No. 61 to No. 70. Remarkably, four of the league’s top defensive tackles will be unveiled in the episode, prompting NFL Network analyst and former Pro Bowl center Shaun O’Hara to list is own rankings of the top 10 defensive tackles heading into the 2018 campaign.

1

Aaron Donald

DT
Rams

No surprise here. Donald is the most disruptive defensive tackle in the game, having led the position in sacks (11), QB hits (27) and forced fumbles (5) in 2017. His quickness and explosive get-off — combined with great hands — make Donald almost impossible for interior O-linemen to contain.
2

Gerald McCoy

DT
Buccaneers

Having racked up 24 QB hits and a sixth straight Pro Bowl nod in 2017, McCoy is the Bucs’ best defensive player right now. His ability to clear the hip as a 3-technique is rare for a DT his size (6-foot-4, 300 pounds). Like Donald, McCoy’s hands make him special at the position.

3

Fletcher Cox

DT
Eagles

Cox has been an instrumental part of the Eagles’ D since he was drafted in 2012. Consistently one of the NFL’s best DTs since then, in part because of his sneaky athleticism, the 6-4, 310-pounder has been a Pro Bowler in each of the past three seasons.
4

Geno Atkins

DT
Bengals

He’s been around for quite some time and is still producing at a high level (see: nine sacks and 20 QB hits as a 29-year-old in 2017). Because of his great get-off — one of the best in the league — Atkins disrupts offensive fronts at a prolific rate. We should see more of the same from the former fourth-round pick in Year 9.
5

Kawann Short

DT
Panthers

He continues to be one of the anchors of Carolina’s stout front seven. The exit of Star Lotulelei in free agency will put more attention on Short in 2018, the first season in which the pair won’t play in the same unit. Competing in a tough division, the Panthers will look for Short to be a playmaker against some of the league’s best offenses.
6

DeForest Buckner

DT
49ers

A top-10 draft pick in 2016, Buckner has done a nice job applying pressure from the inside (including nine sacks in two seasons and 24 QB hits in 2017 alone), despite not being flanked by the best defensive talent in San Francisco. With John Lynch improving the supporting cast, we could be in for a real breakout season from Buckner in 2018.
7

Ndamukong Suh

DT
Rams

Suh has been a disruptive defender in Detroit and Miami, but he’ll be at another level in Los Angeles, playing alongside Aaron Donald. I’m not quite sure how teams plan to contain both players. Suh is set up to have one of his best seasons in 2018.
8

Damon Harrison

DT
Giants

“Snacks” is one of the best run defenders in the league. In a brutal 2017 campaign for the Giants, Harrison was a bright spot, with 76 combined tackles (51 solo) and his first career interception.

9

Linval Joseph

DT
Vikings

Joseph led all Vikings defensive linemen in tackles (68) a year ago and was a key cog in Minnesota’s second-ranked run defense, which allowed just 83.6 yards per game. He also chipped in 3.5 sacks. Joseph should only improve with Sheldon Richardson added to the mix. This unit could be scary-good.
10

Malik Jackson

DT
Jaguars

Jackson was one of the defensive cornerstones for Denver in its Super Bowl run in 2015. Two seasons later, he helped the Jags become one of the best defenses in the league, notching a career-high eight sacks in 2017. With so many studs on Jacksonville’s defense, it’s easy to overlook Jackson, but this guy’s a force.

Time to watch this one again. It does not get old.

..

It’s not about the money

Two ACL tears in one day prove Aaron Donald’s holdout is warranted

Cameron DaSilva

Two ACL tears in one day prove Aaron Donald's holdout is warranted

When the 2018 season begins, both the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles will be without key players due to injuries suffered in OTAs. Unfortunately, both of those injuries were of the ACL variety and just happened to occur on the same exact day.

In a matter of hours, tight end Hunter Henry and linebacker Paul Worrilow of the Chargers and Eagles, respectively, tore their ACLs, sidelining them for the 2018 season. It’s an unfortunate occurrence that happens just about every year with players suffering injuries during voluntary workouts on an astonishingly regular basis, but it’s the reality.

And while Henry’s injury will undoubtedly prove to be one of the most devastating of 2018, both send the same message: injuries are unavoidable … unless you avoid practicing altogether.

That’s exactly why Aaron Donald, Khalil Mack and Zack Martin have stayed away from voluntary OTAs up to this point and are unlikely to participate in any capacity. You could make the same argument for Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, who’s ongoing disputes with the Patriots have been well documented this offseason.

Donald, for one, has been holding out for a new contract since last year. He skipped OTAs last offseason, too, only showing up for mandatory minicamp in June. And we all know that he skipped not only training camp, but the preseason, as well. His holdout ended just before the 2018 season began, forcing him to miss the season opener against the Colts.

He can’t stay away from the team as long as he did last year because he only has three accrued seasons toward free agency, but there’s no telling when he’ll be back in a Rams uniform. Mandatory minicamp? Training camp? August 7? Who knows.

What we do know is that Donald won’t risk injury until he gets some financial security. After seeing Henry and Worrilow go down with torn ACLs, can you blame him? If Donald were to show up for OTAs and blow out his Achilles (*knocks on wood*), he’d dramatically hurt his value as a player.

The Rams would be reluctant to hand him $20 million per year for five years, considering how significant of an injury that would be. At least with a long-term extension in his back pocket, he wouldn’t have to worry about being paid after suffering a devastating injury.

Regardless of when he reports to the Rams, no one in their right mind can blame him for staying away as long as he has. Football is a physical sport with big humans pushing, shoving and tackling other big humans. Injuries are bound to happen, and when you’re arguably the best player in the sport, why risk injury with no financial security? That’s Donald’s line of thinking.