All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald’s selfishness is close to becoming a huge in-season distraction to the Los Angeles Rams
In a perfect world, Aaron Donald’s selfishness wouldn’t be a topic because his holdout wouldn’t be selfish. One of the game’s best defensive players, the third-year defensive lineman has refused to report to the Los Angeles Rams. He wants to renegotiate the last two years of his contract.
The Rams owe him about $8.7 million over the next two years, which everyone — including the Rams — agrees that is grossly cheap labor. Donald’s desire to earn money similar to that of the Broncos’ Von Miller (six years, $114 million, $70 million guaranteed) or the Dolphins’ Ndamukong Suh (six years, $114.4 million, $60 million guaranteed) is understandable.
Heck, the Rams have renegotiated rookie contracts after three years. They arguably overpaid linebacker Robert Quinn and wide receiver Tavon Austin. Both had two years left on their rookie contracts.
But the Rams gave Quinn a six-year, $65 million deal in 2014, according to NFL.com. That included $41.2 million in guaranteed money. They doled out $42 million over four years for Austin before the 2016 season, another NFL.com report said. That included $30 million in guaranteed money.
From that standpoint, Donald has every right to renegotiate. But what is his goal?
More from Los Angeles Rams
- One surprise NFL team that should get in the Jonathan Taylor sweepstakes
- Rams: Will 2023 be a bounce back season for Cooper Kupp?
- 2023 NFL Season: 3 major in-season trades that could go down
- Could the Los Angeles Rams trade their 3 core players in 2023?
- Los Angeles Rams finally add a veteran free agent in 2023
Does Donald simply want to become the game’s highest player? Or does he want to be the best player on a Super Bowl contender? Breaking the bank for Donald means the Rams will have little money to spread elsewhere. That vaunted defense that Donald leads will lose valuable pieces.
The Rams already experienced some of that lost last season when cornerback Janoris Jenkins jumped ship to the New York Giants. Also, if quarterback Jared Goff develops, the Rams seem a lot closer to reversing their fortunes than they did a year ago.
NFL history is filled with teams spending exorbitant amounts of money on one player to the detriment of the team. The Baltimore Ravens won a Super Bowl (XLVII) and then made quarterback Joe Flacco the highest-paid player in the NFL. The Ravens have played exactly one playoff game in the four years since.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Patriots’ Tom Brady — owner of five Super Bowl rings — is tied with the Bears’ Mike Glennon for 20th among highest-paid quarterbacks, according to sportrac.com.
Donald would seem to be able to make up for any lost income on the field with off-field product endorsement if he could lead his team to Super Bowl contention. Ray Lewis once was a suspect in a double-murder investigation. But the face of the Ravens franchise avoided serious trouble and found some work as a pitch man. Imagine what a player with Donald’s until-now pristine reputation could do.
Next: NFL 2017: Predicting one disappointment from each team
The Rams star does have the potential to become one of the highest-paid players in the game — if he understands that not all of his salary has to come from the team. His contract shouldn’t have to be a win-lose proposition. It should be a win-win for the player and team. Hopefully, Donald’s selfishness won’t cloud that judgment.