Comparing Aaron Donald’s new deal to top-paid NFL quarterbacks
How does Aaron Donald’s massive new money compare to the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL heading into the 2022 season?
So much for the rumors about Aaron Donald retiring from the NFL, eh?
Ultimately, even if retirement was a serious consideration for Donald, the Los Angeles Rams made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Donald has become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
If anyone is deserving of that title, it’s Donald.
Aaron Donald’s new deal is absolutely massive
Before this restructure, Donald had three years and $55 million remaining on his contract. The Rams were willing to add $40 million in new money to the deal and $65 million of it is fully guaranteed.
Not only does Rams general manager Les Snead not care about draft picks, he also doesn’t care about the salary cap.
How does this new deal compare to the massive contracts quarterbacks are signing in the NFL these days?
Let’s have a look.
In terms of average annual value, here are the highest-paid players in the league right now.
1. Aaron Rodgers – $50.27M/year
2. Deshaun Watson – $46M/year
3. Patrick Mahomes – $45M/year
4. Josh Allen – $43M/year
5. Derek Carr – $40.5M/year
6a. Dak Prescott – $40M/year
6b. Matthew Stafford – $40M/year
8a. Russell Wilson – $35M/year
8b. Kirk Cousins – $35M/year
10. Jared Goff – $33.5M/year
11. Carson Wentz – $32M/year
12. Aaron Donald – $31.67M/year
13a. Tyreek Hill – $30M/year
13b. Matt Ryan – $30M/year
15. Ryan Tannehill – $29.5M/year
This contract was not an extension by the Los Angeles Rams. This is new money being added to Aaron Donald’s existing deal.
Again, if anyone is worthy of the distinction of highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL, it’s this guy.
Since he came into the league in 2014, arguably no one has been more dominant or disruptive on the defensive side of the ball.
He was instrumental in the Rams winning the Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals, down to the very last snap.
The Los Angeles Rams had already lost Von Miller this offseason and certainly couldn’t afford to lose Donald as well.
It sounds like there were some legitimate considerations by Donald to hang up the cleats after last season, and why not? What else does he have left to prove?
He’s a future Hall of Famer who now has a Super Bowl ring. There’s not much more you can do as an NFL player.
Except make history with your contract.
Donald is the highest-paid defensive player ever and even if that title doesn’t last forever, he will go down in history as a player who reset the bar once and for all.