Los Angeles Rams

Aaron Donald is staying put with the Los Angeles Rams.

And he's making a lot of money to do so.

The Rams announced Monday that he will be back on a new deal, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the reworked contract will pay the defensive tackle $95 million through 2024. It represents a $40 million raise over the next three seasons and makes the future Hall of Famer the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk noted this contract replaces his existing one and features a pair of voidable years that kick in at the end of the 2024 league year. That means Los Angeles would not be able to place the tag on him in 2025 should he choose to keep playing.

According to Spotrac, the Rams' adjusted salary-cap total was $201.1 million prior to the news of the new contract.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus noted the reigning champions actually cleared $2.75 million in 2022 cap space by reworking Donald's deal.

That means it's a win on the salary-cap front for the upcoming campaign and a massive win on the football front for Los Angeles' chances at repeating as Super Bowl champions.

After all, Donald is one of the best defensive players in NFL history. His resume includes the Lombardi Trophy, eight Pro Bowl nods, seven All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and the 2014 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

He turned 31 years old in May but showed few signs of slowing down in 2021 with 84 tackles, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four passes defended while appearing in all 17 games. He has appeared in all but two games since he was the No. 13 overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft.

Paying anyone this amount of money carries an element of risk for any NFL team, but Donald has been durable his entire career and remains one of the most productive players in the league well after what would be considered some players' prime.

Throw in the fact that he is the face of the franchise coming off a Super Bowl title, and it comes as no surprise the Rams did what they could to keep him in the middle of their defense.

The Los Angeles Rams and superstar defensive tackle Aaron Donald reworked the remaining three years on his contract Monday, per multiple reports, essentially giving him a $40 million raise in the process.

The #Rams get their Super Bowl hero back for a guaranteed $65M over the next two seasons with the contract structured to allow Aaron Donald to retire or return in 2024 for an additional guaranteed $30M. https://t.co/Gsq6lYCQmV

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 6, 2022

Aaron Donald now becomes the first non-QB to eclipse $30 million per year. It gives him a $40M raise over last three years of his existing contract with no new years added. The 3-year, now $95M contract makes Donald the highest-paid non QB. Todd France of @AthletesFirst did deal.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 6, 2022

Before his reworked deal, Donald was on pace to reach $152.1 million in career earnings through the 2024 season, per Spotrac. Monday's reworked deal will bring that total to $192.1 million, assuming Donald plays out this contract.

For the Rams, he's been worth every penny.

The 31-year-old is an eight-time Pro Bowler, seven-time first-team All-Pro selection, three-time Defensive Player of the Year and was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in the 2014 season.

The only two defensive players to have been named...

- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year multiple times
- 5-time First Team All-Pro
- Super Bowl champion

... are Aaron Donald and Lawrence Taylor. pic.twitter.com/PMVi20LU4d

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 6, 2022

He's arguably the greatest interior pass-rusher in NFL history, posting 98 sacks in 127 career games across eight seasons. He's posted double-digit sacks in six of those eight years, including 20.5 in the 2018 campaign.

He's added 226 quarterback hits, 150 tackles for loss, 23 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Oh, and he's only missed two games in his entire career.

The future Hall of Famer was instrumental in the Rams' Super Bowl victory this past year. It was his pressure and hit on Joe Burrow on a 4th-and-1 play late in the fourth quarter that clinched the win for the Rams, one snap after he stuffed a running play on third down.

No better way to celebrate the day.

📽 Top 10 Plays for @AaronDonald97's birthday. pic.twitter.com/KOSXlaHpBp

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) May 23, 2022

The Rams have a lot of good players but Aaron Donald was the dominant force who led them to that trophy — it was his pressures that literally sealed both the NFCCG and the Super Bowl — and he’s now being paid commensurately

— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) June 6, 2022

It was also a Donald pressure that forced a game-winning interception late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game. When the Rams needed him most, Donald rose to the occasion.

And now he's being paid like it.

The Lombardi Trophy even followed Sean McVay down the aisle.

The Los Angeles Rams coach got married to his longtime girlfriend, Veronika Khomyn, over the weekend and the celebration featured a Lombardi Trophy cake.

Sean McVay took a huge bite out of a Lombardi Trophy cake during his wedding to Veronika Khomyn this weekend. https://t.co/6NTpHN8HyD

— TMZ (@TMZ) June 6, 2022

Khomyn reposted several videos from the wedding on her Instagram feed over the weekend.

The couple met when McVay was an assistant with the Washington Commanders and Khomyn was a student at George Mason University.

McVay has served as the Rams coach since 2017, with Khomyn alongside him for the entire ride.

The couple got engaged on a vacation in France in 2019.

Count Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp among those who want free-agent wideout Odell Beckham Jr. back in L.A. next season.

During an appearance on ESPN's First Take on Friday (h/t Cameron DaSilva of Rams Wire), Kupp discussed his desire to have Beckham back as a teammate in 2022:

"What he was able to do coming into this offense, learning it and then being able to go out and execute the way he did was absolutely incredible. But just as a person, as a teammate, how he was in our building, I would absolutely love nothing more than to just be able to have him come back and be a part of what we’re building here.

"I talk to him daily, being able to keep up with him. Would love to have him back. There's a lot of stuff that has to be worked through because of how terrible the unfortunate situation where he was gonna have an unbelievable game that Super Bowl, the way things were trending and the way the Bengals were playing us, the game plan we had in for him to be able to go off that game, it just kills me the way that whole thing worked out. But would absolutely love to have him back and I know our receiver room, I know the guys across the board would love to have him back in our building."

The Rams signed Beckham in November after he was waived by the Cleveland Browns, and he became a key part of L.A.'s offense for the remainder of the regular season and during their run to a Super Bowl victory.

Beckham's free agency has been complicated by the fact that he suffered a torn ACL during the Rams' Super Bowl win over the Cincinnati Bengals, meaning it is unlikely he will be ready to play at the start of the 2022 campaign.

In eight regular-season contests with the Rams, OBJ reeled in 27 receptions for 305 yards and five touchdowns. He was even better during the playoffs, with 21 grabs for 288 yards and two scores in four games.

As Kupp alluded to, Beckham scored the opening touchdown of the Super Bowl, although he was unable to finish the game due to injury.

The Rams made one major swap to their receiving corps this offseason, as they traded Robert Woods to the Tennessee Titans and signed former Chicago Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson.

As of now, Kupp and Robinson are in line to be the top two targets for quarterback Matthew Stafford, with downfield threat Van Jefferson serving as the No. 3 receiver.

The Rams have no imminent need for another wideout, although an injury to any of their top three receivers would change that since the rest of their receiving corps is unproven.

Beckham would be a luxury with Kupp, Robinson and Jefferson all healthy, but that simply means the Rams can afford to bring him along slowly in his rehab before utilizing him later in the season.

Given Beckham's familiarity with the Rams and the success he had with the team last season, re-signing with them may be his best option.

It stands to reason that other teams may be interested in the three-time Pro Bowler, but they would also have to exercise patience given the nature of his injury.

Beckham went from a luxury to a necessity last season as Woods was lost for the year right after Beckham signed, and it is possible that OBJ could find himself in a similar situation with the Rams this season.

Aaron Donald hinted he may wind up retiring if the price isn't right for a contract extension.

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay eased some concerns Wednesday, telling reporters "things are trending in the right direction" in negotiations.

McVay added that Donald's comments, which came on the I Am Athlete podcast, were no surprise to the Rams.

"Me talking about retirement, that was happening way before we won a Super Bowl," Donald said. "I've been saying that since I got into the league that I was going to play eight years and be done. That's just what I've been saying. It just came out and then everybody think that, 'Oh, he said if he wins a Super Bowl he's going to retire.' Nah, I got teammates, coaches, my family who know about this. I said I'm going to play eight years, and I'm going to probably be done playing football.

"But winning a Super Bowl, you get kind of a little addicted to it. I ain't going to lie. I want to feel that again. That experience is like none other. If I was to play, it's just to win another Super Bowl, but at the end of the day, it's still a business and it got to make sense to me and my family."

Donald has three years and $55 million remaining on his contract, but none of that money is guaranteed. The Rams already paid him a $5 million roster bonus because he was on the roster after March 17.

Despite signing his contract nearly four years ago, Donald remains the NFL's highest-paid interior lineman but is not paid on the same level as elite edge-rushers. Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt earns an average annual salary of $28 million, which may be the number Donald strives to reach in negotiations.

There is no question Donald remains the sport's most dominant interior force. He recorded a career-high 84 tackles and 12.5 sacks last season, making his seventh consecutive All-Pro team and finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The 31-year-old has finished no lower than fifth in DPOY voting in any of the last seven seasons.

If negotiations were to break down and Donald retires, he would be an unquestioned first-ballot Hall of Famer and be remembered as the premier defensive player of his generation. That said, the competitive fire in Donald clearly has him wanting to return this season and push for a Lombardi Trophy repeat.

So long as the price is right.

If Aaron Donald can't agree to terms on a contract with a team he believes can contend for a Super Bowl title in 2022, the veteran defensive tackle told the I Am Athlete podcast on Monday that he will be "at peace" retiring this summer:

For me, it's about winning. I don't want to play football if I can't win anyway, so I feel like if I got a real opportunity to win another Super Bowl, then it makes sense to play. But again, it's still a business, and we got to handle the business side of things, and if that wasn't to get handled then, you know, it is what it is type of situation.

I'll be fine regardless, but me talking about retirement, that was happening way before we won a Super Bowl. I've been saying that since I got into the league I was going to play eight years and be done. That's just what I've been saying. ... If I was to play, it's just to win another Super Bowl, but at the end of the day, it's still a business and it got to make sense to me and my family.

... I don't need to play football to be fine. ... I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made, the accomplishments I made in eight years is, like, I'm complete. If I can win another one, that's great. But if not, I'm at peace.

Donald's comments come after ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this month that the eight-time Pro Bowler was working with the Rams on a "new deal that promises to be record-breaking."

"This is expected to be an extension, repackaging the remaining three years on his deal with a big raise," Fowler wrote. "Top-of-the-market for defensive players is $28 million annually, and Donald will be well above that when this is all said and done. He has been arguably the game's best player for at least a half-decade."

Fowler added that his "understanding" was that Donald "has a number he will play for," and if it's not met, then he'd consider retirement. However, Donald said during his appearance on the I Am Athlete podcast that "it ain't about the money."

Donald is under contract with the Rams for three more seasons and is set to earn $26.8 million in 2022 before his salary drops to $23.5 million in 2023 and 2024, per Spotrac. 

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt is the NFL's highest-paid defensive player, earning $28 million per year. Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Joey Bosa is the second-highest paid defensive player at $27 million per year. 

Considering Donald has the potential to go down as the most dominant player in NFL history, he deserves to be paid handsomely.

Donald has spent his entire eight-year career with the Rams, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, seven first-team All-Pro nods and three Defensive Player of the Year awards, in addition to being named Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014.

The 31-year-old has been arguably the most consistent defensive player in the league since being drafted 13th overall, and he showed no signs of slowing down last season. 

In 17 regular-season games, Donald posted 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, 84 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hits. He was just as good in the playoffs, recording 3.5 sacks, 13 tackles, four tackles for loss and nine quarterback hits en route to a Super Bowl title. 

If Donald retires or fails to re-sign with L.A., the Rams defense shouldn't be nearly as effective in 2022. And considering the franchise is looking for another Super Bowl run, locking up Donald makes all the sense in the world. 

Aaron Donald is the best interior defensive lineman in the NFL, and one of the best players to ever play the position, period. 

But it wasn't where he envisioned playing growing up. 

"Back in the day, I thought I was going to be a running back," he told the I Am Athlete podcast. "I just ate myself out that position. Growing up, I always played fullback and I played linebacker. Then I started playing fullback, D-lineman. I thought defensive line was a fat position, so I didn't want to be called a fat guy. That's just how it was. But I felt like I wanted to be a fullback, but I needed to get the ball, I wasn't just a blocking fullback." 

After a Super Bowl title, eight Pro Bowls, seven first-team All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, already $97.1 million in career earnings and far more to come once he inevitably signs another extension with the Rams, it sure seems as though Donald ended up in the perfect position. 

Los Angeles Rams star Aaron Donald announced on the I Am Athlete podcast that he has signed with Kanye West's Donda Sports:

"I think it's a helluva opportunity to open up a lot of different doors and a lot of different things outside of football that I wanna be involved in, that I wanna do, that my wife wanna do," Donald said (h/t TMZ Sports). "So to be a part of that, and be one of the best first athletes to be a part of that, it's pretty dope. We're excited about it, and we're gonna see where this thing goes."

Kanye partnered with Pro Bowl receiver Antonio Brown to form Donda Sports this year, with Brown referring to himself as the president of the company in a February Instagram post. 

Brown has seven Pro Bowl selections in his career, but the 33-year-old has appeared in just 16 games over the last three years and recently said he doesn't plan to play in 2022.

Donald is a much bigger star at the moment, coming off his first career Super Bowl title with the Rams. The defensive tackle has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of his eight NFL seasons and was named first-team All-Pro in each of the last seven years, winning the Defensive Player of the Year award three times.

Despite his resume as one of the best defensive players in league history, Donald ranks just 27th in the NFL in average annual salary, per Spotrac, and he didn't crack Forbes' list of the 50 richest athletes in the world. 

A partnership with Donda Sports could help improve Donald's brand off the field, with podcast co-host Brandon Marshall asking about a potential line of signature cleats down the line with Ye.

"Ain't nothing in full circle, but we've been talking," Donald said. "We got a lot of different things that are planned."     

Aaron Donald is the best defensive player of his generation and should be paid as such. The Los Angeles Rams surely know this. If they don't, they run the risk of losing the greatest player in franchise history.

Some may scoff at the final statement, yet Donald has more Defensive Player of the Year trophies than Deacon Jones, more first-team All-Pro nods than Merlin Olsen and made arguably the biggest play in the biggest moment to capture the organization's second title of the Super Bowl era. 

Donald is an all-time great. Because of his standing and the possibility of retirement, the defensive lineman holds significant leverage in negotiating a new deal despite three years remaining on his contract. 

The market has significantly changed over the last year. The Rams can't hold strong on their current agreement, or they run the risk of losing Donald altogether. 

"Keep in mind that the retirement buzz around Donald ... was always real," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported. "And it's my understanding that Donald has a number he will play for. If it's not met, retirement can still go down. Adding years to an already existing three-year pact takes Donald well into his mid-30s, and who knows whether he wants to play that long? But that's the best way for Los Angeles to stretch out the money for cap purposes." 

The eight-time Pro Bowl selection turned 31 this week. Donald likely understands the next deal he signs will almost certainly be his last.

And he should be looking to become the game's highest-paid defender, like he was when he initially signed his six-year, $135 million deal in 2018. He held the designation for exactly one day because the then-Oakland Raiders traded Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears and signed him to a contract that included a higher total value, a greater average annual salary and more guaranteed money. 

Since that point, the Cleveland Browns' Myles Garrett, Los Angeles Chargers' Joey Bosa and Pittsburgh Steelers' T.J. Watt have surpassed both, with average annual salaries ranging from $25-28 million. Both Garrett and Bosa met or exceeded $100 million in guarantees.

Those numbers should continue to grow even without Donald reentering the market. The San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa and Tennessee Titans' Jeffery Simmons both entered the window to negotiate their first contract extensions this offseason. 

It's not just edge-rushers getting paid at the same level or above Donald's pay scale. Defensive tackles and corners have entered the same stratosphere, too.

Like Donald, Simmons is another interior defender. DeForest Buckner recently signed an extension with the Indianapolis Colts that's only $1.5 million short of Donald's average annual salary. The cornerback market, meanwhile, exploded within the last month. The Cleveland Browns' Denzel Ward and Green Bay Packers' Jaire Alexander now sit at $20.1 and $21 million, respectively, compared to Donald's $22.5 million annual salary. 

Donald's actual cash flow for 2022 is only $14.3 million. At that number, he'll be the NFL's 10th-highest paid interior defender in cash spent, according to Over the Cap. In fact, Donald hasn't ranked among the top three at his position since he signed the deal four years ago.

His number will enter said range in 2023 and '24, which is why it would be smart of the Rams to redo his current deal: Give the all-time great more upfront money now and extend those salary-cap hits over a longer period of time. 

Considering all of those factors and how the NFL financial landscape continues to change, Donald is well worth a deal with an average salary of $30 million or more to once again become the NFL's highest-paid defender. Tyreek Hill became the first non-quarterback to reach the number after the Miami Dolphins completed a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for the wide receiver and handed him the contract extension.

But as talented as Hill is, Donald is the NFL's most dominant player, even in a pass-first league. 

The defensive lineman's on-field value is without question. His 502 pressures since the start of the 2017 campaign rank first, and no one else is even within 140 of his production, according to Pro Football Focus. Over the last two seasons, Donald's 28 tackles for loss or no gain are more than any other player's output. He's been a near-unstoppable force in the middle of the Rams defense, as the NFL's highest-graded defender for six straight seasons. His play has yet to show any regression.  

When the Rams needed a critical play during Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, Donald obliged.

He registered seven pressures and two sacks. One of those moments couldn't have come at a more opportune time. Donald ended the contest when his quickness off the snap and ease of beating left guard Quinton Spain allowed him to pressure Joe Burrow on the Bengals' last offensive play to the point where the quarterback couldn't do anything other than hopelessly flutter a pass attempt as he crashed to the ground. 

At that moment, Donald cemented his legacy.  

A true war daddy along the defensive front must be accounted for at all times. He's both a dominant run defender and able to consistently collapse the pocket. He changes the entire complexion of a game and how an opposing offense must game-plan. Donald isn't just a great defender capable of doing these things; he's in the conversation with Lawrence Taylor and Reggie White as the greatest of all time, though it may be a tad premature to say so. 

The Rams don't seem too concerned about losing Donald in the short term. Head coach Sean McVay told reporters at the owners meetings in March that Donald's decision not to retire proved to be a "major relief." 

"We definitely have chatted with Aaron, his representation, and we're trying to come up with a win-win solution to reward Aaron but still definitely be able to continue trying to compete as a team at the highest level," general manager Les Snead said two months ago. "So, we're in progress there.

"I know Aaron's articulated to us that he would like to be back, and he would definitely like to continue to try to do special things not only as an individual player but as a team."

The Rams aren't in the red for the next two seasons in projected salary-cap space, though they don't have a ton of wiggle room. A lowered number on Donald's contract in 2022 would create extra space to use next year and help offset the extension.

Los Angeles' projected free agents for 2023 aren't overwhelming, with possible new deals for offensive tackle Rob Havenstein, guards Bobby Evans and David Edwards, running back Darrell Henderson, nose tackle Greg Gaines, defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson, edge Justin Hollins, cornerback David Long, safety Taylor Rapp and kicker Matt Gay.

None of those should be viewed as high priorities. They're all solid players, but none of them are franchise building blocks. They certainly don't warrant the same type of attention as Donald. 

Maybe the reemergence of retirement talk this month is nothing but a strategy to get another contract extension. Even if it is, the Rams can't take the risk. They must get a new contract done and make sure Donald finishes his Hall of Fame career as the centerpiece of the franchise. Otherwise, the thought of repeating as Super Bowl champions will be gone in an instant. 

                     

Los Angeles Rams superstar Aaron Donald didn't attend the start of organized team activities on Monday, which was also his 31st birthday, but head coach Sean McVay expressed optimism about the direction of contract talks.

"Dialogue has been good," McVay told reporters. "He's done a great job communicating.  Gets a chance to spend time with his family right now."

Donald has three seasons left on his six-year, $135 million contract. He's scheduled to make $14.25 million in total cash for 2022, which only ranks sixth among defensive tackles, per Spotrac. It's a position where he's been the gold standard for nearly a decade.

The University of Pittsburgh product is one of the most decorated players of his generation. He's earned eight Pro Bowl appearances, seven First Team All-Pro selections, three Defensive Player of the Year Awards and won a Super Bowl title with the Rams last season.

There was speculation after the Rams' Super Bowl triumph that Donald could retire, but he appeared to shove that conversation aside during the team's championship celebrations.

"We built a super team," Donald said. "We could bring the super team back. Why not run it back? We could be world champs again." 

It's not a lock he returns, though.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported last week Donald has "a number he will play for." If the Rams aren't willing to meet that total in a new deal, the defensive stalwart could still retire.

Time isn't a major concern at this stage. He doesn't need OTAs, or even training camp or the preseason, to get himself ready for the team's title defense. He could show up a few days before L.A.'s Week 1 clash with the Buffalo Bills and still command double teams.

The Rams have a better idea of their financial outlook now that the draft and most of free agency is in the rearview mirror. It should give the front office a clear picture of how much they can offer Donald, likely in the form of a front-loaded deal.

All told, it would be a surprise if Donald isn't anchoring the Rams' defensive line when the 2022 season gets underway in September.