Rams' Aaron Donald Part of 'Perfect' NFL Roster?

Los Angeles Rams' defensive tackle Aaron Donald remains one of the most respected players in the NFL.

Even after being limited to just 11 games during the 2022 season, Los Angeles Rams' defensive tackle Aaron Donald is still on path to reach the Hall of Fame in Canton. 

NFL Media recently put together a mock draft designed to build the perfect roster to win a Super Bowl in 2023. The order was determined by the worst records from the 2022 season, so the Chicago Bears had the No. 1 overall pick and used it on quarterback Patrick Mahomes. In fact, the first nine picks were used on quarterbacks, before the New Orleans Saints selected Donald at No. 10.

"The Saints have not selected a quarterback in the first round of the college draft since 1971 (Archie Manning). They continue that trend here by picking the league's most-decorated active defender," NFL Media wrote. "Even in Donald's first career season with less than eight sacks (five in 2022), he earned a top-10 defensive grade from Pro Football Focus." 

Interestingly, Donald was on the board when it came time for the Rams to pick in the first round -- something they haven't done in real life since 2016 -- at No. 6 overall. Instead, Los Angeles went with quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who had a breakout season for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. 

Nine quarterbacks went before Donald, and two more -- Justin Fields to the Tennessee Titans and Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns -- went immediately after the three-time Defensive Player of the Year Award winner. Receiver Tyreek Hill, edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Micah Parsons were the first three non-quarterbacks to go after Donald. 

For what it's worth, just two years after winning Offensive Player of the Year, receiver Cooper Kupp wasn't taken until the Kansas City Chiefs took him with the top pick in the second round. Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was limited to nine games a year ago, was taken by the New York Giants with the No. 39 pick. 

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