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Vikings Better Pray the Rams Don’t Do the Unthinkable
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- Vikings Better Pray the Rams Don’t Do the Unthinkable
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Rams have constructed their roster in recent years to be a part of the NFL bourgeoisie, and on Monday, they got even richer by trading for EDGE rusher Myles Garrett .
Los Angeles was already the favorite to win the Super Bowl next February, so the Garrett trade makes them downright obscene. Now, to dodge the bullet, the Minnesota Vikings and 30 other teams must hope that defensive tackle Aaron Donald doesn't unretire in the wake of the Garrett trade .
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Los Angeles Keeps Building a Monster in the NFC
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald reacts while attending a WNBA matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Las Vegas Aces at Crypto.com Arena. On May 25, 2023, Donald watched the action from courtside as the future Hall of Famer appeared at one of Los Angeles' premier professional sporting events. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.
Rumors Swirl about a Donald Comeback
Pro Football Network 's Nicolaas Ackermann wrote after the Garrett trade, " Myles Garrett 's trade from the Cleveland Browns to the Los Angeles Rams caused a frenzy in the NFL community to the point where attention is turning to Aaron Donald. The trade strengthens the Rams' chances of winning the Super Bowl, and people around the league quickly started speculating about Donald's potential return to the Rams."
"Talks of how good the defense can be this year poured over into further speculation about who else the team could add. The NFL world, on one hand, was quick to call for three-time Defensive Player of the Year Donald to come out of retirement to join what already looks to be a rockstar defense."
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And the PFSN article was just the tip of the iceberg. Calls for Donald to unretire, along with rumors about why it makes sense, ran roughshod on social media Monday.
Two Years Away from the Sport but Still in Remarkable Shape
Donald recently posted footage on social media himself, and unsurprisingly, the man is in fantastic shape. Go figure. There's no way to know in June if he's actually serious about a comeback — Garrett in Los Angeles is required to intrigue him, almost no matter what — but if he were to take the plunge and return for a season, he might be the one guy in recent NFL history who you know would be in tip-top shape for his sequel.
He just turned 35; the return obviously would not be long-term. However, if he needs inspiration, Donald should either call Calais Campbell or turn on some Campbell tape from the last few seasons. Campbell will turn 40 this September and remains a Top 25 defensive tackle around the sport.
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If Campbell can play until his age-40 season, Donald can return for his age-35 campaign.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay watches from the sideline during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles at SoFi Stadium. During the Oct. 8, 2023, contest in Inglewood, California, McVay monitored game action in the second half as the Rams battled one of the NFC's top contenders. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports.
SI.com 's Blaine Grisak on a possible Donald reunion : "It's fair to wonder whether or not adding Myles Garrett to the equation would change things for Donald. Coming out of retirement is something that Donald would at least have to consider."
"Having the opportunity to win another Super Bowl while playing with Myles Garrett, Byron Young , Kobie Turner , and Braden Fiske would be special. It would almost certainly be the best supporting cast that Donald played with during his career. It still seems far-fetched that Donald would return to the Rams in 2026. That's not to say that it won't happen. Serena Williams recently announced her return to tennis and anything is possible."
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The Resume
Donald's career statistics and awards are utterly extraordinary. In just 10 seasons, Donald amassed 111 sacks, 260 quarterback hits, 176 tackles for loss, 543 combined tackles, and 24 forced fumbles. He averaged 12.3 sacks per 17 games, a rate typically seen from edge rushers, not players who primarily face double teams in the interior.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald prepares for a home game against the Arizona Cardinals at SoFi Stadium. Ahead of the Oct. 15, 2023, NFC West matchup in Inglewood, California, Donald completed his pregame routine before taking the field for another divisional contest in his accomplished career. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports.
His accolades include a Super Bowl ring, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, Defensive Rookie of the Year, eight First-Team All-Pro selections, and 10 Pro Bowls in 10 seasons. The honors reflect his complete dominance throughout his career.
Donald was not merely the best defensive tackle of his era; his statistics confirm his status as one of the most disruptive defensive players in NFL history. Hands down.
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An Example of the Rams' Star-Studded Depth Chart Even without Donald
If you're just checking back in with the NFL because the regular season isn't far off, you have to see the Rams' personnel to believe it:
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Davante Adams (WR)
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Kam Curl (S)
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Kevin Dotson (G)
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Poona Ford (DT)
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Myles Garrett (OLB)
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Kam Kinchens (S)
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Alaric Jackson (OT)
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Quentin Lake (S)
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Nate Landman (ILB)
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Trent McDuffie (CB)
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Puka Nacua (WR)
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Matthew Stafford (QB)
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Kobie Turner (DT)
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Byron Young (OLB)
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Jaylen Watson (CB)
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Kyren Williams (RB)
And those are just the guys who are really, really good and really, really solid. The list doesn't even feature decent starters and depth players.
That, too, is on top of the fact that Los Angeles is coached by Sean McVay . Comically, the Rams don't even need Donald to remain the Super Bowl frontrunner. But he'd be the unholy cake-topper.
