Recent weeks have seen a surge in speculation regarding Aaron Donald’s potential return to the NFL. The defensive tackle has been associated with a possible comeback to the Los Angeles Rams, especially following the acquisition of Myles Garrett. On Thursday, Terron Armstead suggested that this rumor might indeed become reality.
Donald stepped away from the game two years ago after an impressive 10-year stint with the Rams, which included a Super Bowl triumph. Armstead, speaking on his podcast “The Set,” hinted that the prospect of adding more accolades to his career may entice Donald to rejoin a promising Rams squad.
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“I’m getting news, I’m getting some insightful information that Aaron Donald’s return is real,” Armstead stated. “Aaron Donald has been working out—he’s always working out—but now he’s been focusing on football drills. He’s been in the trenches, hitting the dirt, doing get-offs, and striking pads to evaluate his readiness.”
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“And he hasn’t made the decision yet, but it is a possibility now. Like, it is a real thing. This is not just speculation anymore. This is him going through the final steps of his process with himself and his family to see if he’s going to go back and do this.”
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Donald exited the NFL as one of its most celebrated defensive players, securing three Defensive Player of the Year titles. He also claimed the Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2014 and earned eight All-Pro first-team honors before retiring.
Aaron Donald’s potential return comes with financial complexities for the Rams
If Aaron Donald decides to end his retirement, the Rams will face financial challenges in compensating the likely future Pro Football Hall of Famer. John Sbisa from Fansided provided insight into the Rams’ financial situation as fans eagerly await news of Donald’s possible return.
“Aaron Donald’s return to the Los Angeles Rams would bring a lot of excitement and, of course, financial complexities,” Sbiza wrote. “Per OvertheCap, the front office has about $18.85 million of space to work with, and rookie quarterback Ty Simpson still hasn’t signed a contract.”
“It is generally believed that Donald would want sufficient monetary compensation to make unretiring worth his while. Donald walked away in 2023 with one year remaining on a three-year $95 million deal.”
According to Sbisa, while financial constraints may pose challenges, they are not expected to prevent the Rams from re-signing Donald if he chooses to return. However, the team may need to offer him a tailored contract and restructure some player agreements to comply with the salary cap.
Edited by Farouk Yusuf
