The Los Angeles Rams are set to head into the NFL offseason with several important questions that could have a significant impact on the future of the franchise.
One of which is the contract situation surrounding star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who is set to enter the final year of his deal. According to Myles Simmons of Therams.com, general manager Les Snead stated on Wednesday that getting a new deal worked out with Donald near the top of the docket for the Rams.
“To be honest with you, I would be probably lying if I put a timeline on this one,” Snead said. “But, like I’ve always said with Aaron … we want him to be a Ram a long time. So when we ink that deal or not — I can’t put a timeline on it. But it is a major priority, as it always will be until we get it done. … I don’t know necessarily in terms of last or first, what I do know is, he’s an important domino. But the way we attack that list of names, can’t say that Aaron would be first. We’ll have them all going on simultaneously and try to knock them out. We’ve got a little bit of a general plan as it is now. We’ll come back and fine tune it.”
Donald is coming off yet another highly productive campaign that saw him finish with a career-high 11.0 sacks while leading the NFL with 91 quarterback pressures in just 14 games played. This helped him earn his fourth straight Pro Bowl selection and was named to the All-Pro First Team for the third consecutive year.
The 26-year-old has clearly proven to be one of the best defensive players in the league through his first four campaigns, and should undoubtedly be in line for a lucrative long-term extension with Los Angeles. In that time, he has proven to be the anchor of the defense with his game-changing ability both against the pass and run.
However, what could delay the push to get Donald a new deal is the impending free agency of several other key members of the team in cornerback Trumaine Johnson, wide receiver Sammy Watkins, and safety LaMarcus Joyner. The Rams have already voiced that they will likely bring back Johnson a new deal after placing him on the franchise tag the last two years.
Meanwhile, there is a firm belief that Los Angeles will place the franchise tag on Watkins in early March as a starting point to hammer out a multi-year deal. Lastly, Joyner has progressively emerged as possibly their most dependable and versatile player in the secondary and locking him up to a new contract in free agency should be high up on the list.
Once the Rams resolve these situations first, a huge contract should be in order for Donald at some over the offseason.
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