The Aaron Donald Rams era has officially returned, as the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year comes out of retirement. He does so by signing a one-year $20 million contract that brings him back to the team that drafted him in 2014.
Donald returning to the Los Angeles Rams sounds great on paper, but will he be the player that he once was? Here’s what the eight-time First Team All-Pro could look like and how Los Angeles could use him.
With Donald being 35 years old and away from the game for two years, it is highly unlikely that he’s going to be the same level of player immediately. In fact, his traditional production had declined in his later years from the historic level he set earlier in his career.
In Donald’s last two years in the NFL, he didn’t produce as much as he did in his earlier years. He pressured quarterbacks less later in his career, only amounting to 1.96 pressures per game in 2023 and 1.45 in 2022. For comparison, he averaged 3.84 pressures per game in 2018.
Donald’s sack and fumble totals also fell from the large amount he recorded during his prime. He had fewer than 10 sacks each of his last two seasons and only forced one fumble during that time span. While his production was solid, it didn’t replicate the effectiveness he once had.
Along with Donald’s decline in production, it’s doubtful that he will get back to playing shape instantly. Though he expresses that he feels great, being physically fit isn’t necessarily equal to being ready to take on the physical demands needed to play in the NFL’s trenches.
Considering all of the concerns about his physical fitness, Donald may not be as active as he once was. In the last seven years of his career, he played at least 80% of the Rams’ defensive snaps. Since he is coming out of retirement, it’s unexpected for him to reach these snap count numbers.
Although Donald may not provide his usual production and availability, he should still possess his pass-rushing ability. He didn’t reach his elite level of play by simply having the physical tools. If he can rely on his hand speed, leverage, and diverse pass rush moves, he can have success in a limited role.
In his last season, Donald had a pass rush win rate of 20%. If he was able to win in pass rush that often when he showed decline, it may provide enough reason for optimism. There’s no guarantee that he can match that win rate, but it could indicate his efficiency with lessened physical tools.
Realistic success for Donald would be to show his impact through reduced workloads. Instead of being the three-down double-digit sack artist, he should focus on maximizing his effectiveness as a third-down pass rusher. If he can provide around five sacks, 20 tackles, and seven tackles for loss, his return would be well worth it for Los Angeles.
Donald returning to the Rams will offer them some flexibility on their already talented defensive line. This offseason, Los Angeles traded for Myles Garrett, who recently broke the NFL record for sacks in a season with 23. With Garrett on his side, Donald could see less attention and get better opportunities to rush QBs.
Garrett should command much attention from offenses, as with his recent success, they might slide protection towards him. This would allow Donald to rush up the interior without being a primary pass-rushing threat. It would also help him see more one-on-one matchups.
Besides Garrett, the Rams have Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner. Fiske is a defensive tackle who recorded three sacks, 10 QB hits, and 13 pressures last season. Turner plays defensive end, where he compiled seven sacks, 14 QB hits, and 20 pressures.
Fiske and Turner will provide depth and solid production, so Los Angeles won’t have to rely on Donald to play a high snap count. This would offer the Rams the ability to rotate their defense while keeping consistent pressure throughout games.
With the flexibility and depth around Donald, Los Angeles could primarily use him in obvious passing situations to start the season. A potential four-man pass rush of Donald, Garrett, Fiske, and Turner may be one of the most intimidating defensive lines in the NFL.
Later in the season, if Donald can display his former speed and play strength, he could be used in unique stunts to create clear lanes. This would allow the Rams the ability to get creative with their defensive fronts and give offenses different looks.
Los Angeles should focus on preserving Donald at the start of the season. Early in the year, he should only play around 25-30% of snaps as a rotational pass rusher. If he then stays healthy, his workload and role should increase towards the start of the playoffs.
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Through all of the rumors about his return, Donald coming back shouldn’t be too surprising. The Rams have been making “win now” moves all offseason, and bringing him out of retirement seems to be their final addition.
What matters now is what Donald can offer them and how Los Angeles can apply him to their defense. Realistically, the 2026 version of Donald won’t be playing 80% of defensive snaps and racking up sacks. Instead, he could be contributing while in a limited role, generating pressure up the interior.
It may be a tall task, but if Donald can provide even half of his typical production, he may contribute to another Super Bowl victory.
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