It comes as little surprise that the Los Angeles Rams are eagerly anticipating Aaron Donald’s return for the 2024 season.
General manager Les Snead expressed his optimism regarding Donald’s potential comeback during a press conference on Wednesday, stating, “Definitely hope Aaron is… I know Aaron is definitely approaching the offseason where he’s doing his normal getting-away, somewhat trying to get revitalized with the goal of playing good football.”
Although Donald remains under contract for the upcoming season, retirement has been a topic of consideration for him in the past. Following the Rams’ Super Bowl victory in the 2021 season, he openly discussed the possibility of stepping away from the game, but has since continued to play through multiple campaigns.
As he enters the offseason at 33 years old, Donald boasts an impressive tenure with the Rams, including a Super Bowl title, three Defensive Player of the Year awards, a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, 10 Pro Bowl selections, and eight First Team All-Pro honors.
A safety and exclamation point from Aaron Donald!
📺: #CLEvsLAR on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/NlocErTBKT— NFL (@NFL) December 4, 2023
While Donald’s statistical dominance may have slightly waned from his peak years, during which he recorded double-digit sacks in five consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2021, including a league-leading 20.5 in 2018, he remained a formidable presence on the field in 2023.
Despite facing constant double teams, he amassed 53 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and three passes defended, earning him a coveted spot on the First Team All-Pro and an impressive overall player grade of 90.9 from Pro Football Focus.
Although Snead stopped short of definitively confirming Donald’s return for 2024, it’s evident that the Rams would greatly benefit from having him back to anchor their defense.
With aspirations of building upon last season’s 10-7 record and postseason appearance, Donald’s presence in the middle of their defensive line could prove instrumental to their success.
