Despite negotiating for over a year now, the Los Angeles Rams and Aaron Donald still haven’t come to terms on a contract extension. As a result, Donald has once again held out of training camp and will likely do so until he gets his new deal.
Rams COO Kevin Demoff has been a central figure in the negotiations with Donald. In an appearance on Mighty 1090AM in San Diego, Demoff explains the simple reason why the two sides still haven’t hashed things out after all this time.
“I don’t think they’re unrealistic,” Demoff said of Donald’s representatives. “I think they see their client at a certain point that they value at, we see it at a different point. To me, that doesn’t mean one side is right or wrong. I think that’s the worst thing you can say in negotiations. We don’t agree, but that doesn’t make us right and them wrong. It doesn’t make them right and us wrong. We just don’t agree. And hopefully we can find that magic bullet to go get there and agree.”
Based on Donald’s production during the first four years of his NFL career, he’s got a good case for being the highest-paid defensive player in the NFL. His camp knows that, and the Rams likely know that as well.
What’s unknown is just how much more than Von Miller — the current highest-paid defender at $19 million per year — Donald wants. If he’s asking for high-end quarterback money, then the Rams have a right to balk. As good as Donald is, it’s just a fact that due to his position, he doesn’t provide as much value to justify such a steep price.
The Rams hold the leverage in this negotiation. If Donald doesn’t show up by Aug. 7, he becomes a restricted free agent. And if he does hit unrestricted free agency next offseason, the team can also use the franchise tag on him for a couple of seasons.
But that’s what negotiations are for. Hopefully, the two sides can still come to some sort of compromise and get a deal done before the regular season begins. Otherwise, they'll have to do it all over again next year.
Follow Us
Subscribe