Are Rams Considering Aaron Donald Trade?

The Los Angeles Rams are reportedly considering making some serious moves this offseason.

Matt Galatzan | Jan 24, 2023

The Los Angeles Rams have already undergone some major changes this offseason.

But there could be even bigger moves on the horizon.

According to reports, there is a possibility that the Rams could move on from three of their top defensive players, including superstar All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald - who many consider to be the top defensive player in the NFL, regardless of position.

"Teams move off high-earning players for a variety of reasons, a reality the Rams and Raiders could prove over the next few months," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler wrote. "For Los Angeles, the reason is clear: The Rams are nearly $14 million over the salary cap and have six players with cap hits of $20-plus million. Two of those players, wide receiver Cooper Kupp ($27.8. million) and quarterback Matthew Stafford ($20 million), aren’t going anywhere. The other three — defensive tackle Aaron Donald ($26 million), cornerback Jalen Ramsey ($25.2 million) and pass-rusher Leonard Floyd ($22 million) — might be."

While this idea might come as a shock for Rams fans everywhere, Los Angeles is currently financially strapped and in dire need of future assets such as draft picks.

So moving on from Donald, or either Jalen Ramsey or Leonard Floyd in some capacity in return for assets might be more of an eventuality for the Rams, rather than an option.

In 2018 Donald signed a six-year deal worth $135 million through the 2024 season.

The deal made him the fifth-highest-paid defensive player in the league behind T.J. Watt, Joey Bosa, Myles Garrett, and Khalil Mack.

Donald is set to earn a $13.5 million base salary in 2023, along with a $15 million signing bonus, and will carry a cap hit of $26,000,000 and a dead cap value of $44,000,000.

Last season, Donald recorded 49 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and five sacks, nearly half of his production of 2021, when he had 84 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 26 quarterback hits.

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Published Jan 24, 2023

MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of RamDigest.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels. For any inquiries, please email matt.galatzan@gmail.com