The Los Angeles Rams began voluntary OTAs on Monday morning with one notable absentee. All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald was not in attendance as expected due to his contract situation.
There has been the notion that a new deal will get done at some point over the NFL offseason but there hasn't been a deadline in place for it to be worked out. Following the first day of OTAs, All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters weighed in on conversation voicing that he believes his teammate should get paid.
Marcus Peters, on Aaron Donald’s OTAs absence: “Pay the man. I mean, shit, you win the MVP…”
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) May 21, 2018
The stance that Peters has taken certainly has much credence as Donald is coming off an impressive 2017 campaign that earned him his NFL Defensive Player of the Year award after tying his career high with 11.0 sacks along with a career-best five forced fumbles and 41 total tackles along with his fourth straight Pro Bowl nod and third consecutive First-Team All-Pro nod. He also holds the franchise mark for most sacks (39.0) by a defensive tackle, while he is only player at his position with at least eight sacks in each of his first four seasons since the 1982 season.
Through his first four seasons in the league, Donald has quickly earned the reputation as arguably the best defensive player in the league. He has solidified himself as the anchor defensively for the Rams up the middle with his ability to profoundly impact the game both against the run and pass that often times draws double teams from opposing offensive lines.
All of this should put him in line to receive a lucrative extension that could make him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history. The Rams have continued to voice optimism about a new deal getting done at some point during the summer, which would suggest that two sides are making progress.
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