Not long after the Los Angeles Rams pulled off a blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett, many wondered if Aaron Donald would come out of retirement to join him with the Rams.
This isn’t the first time speculation about Donald coming out of retirement has run rampant, but this time around it feels like a legit possibility.
Donald has since addressed the situation, telling Pat McAfee that the Garrett trade “for sure got me thinking” about returning to the NFL.
When speaking on the topic during a recent episode of his podcast, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said he believes it’s “more likely than not” that Donald comes out of retirement.
“I think when you talk to all the people involved, nobody is coming out right now and saying Aaron Donald is coming back, but everybody is acknowledging that it is a possibility,” Schefter said.
“The fact that this is even coming up, the fact that the Rams have the team they do, the fact that Aaron Donald would get to play with Myles Garrett, the fact that the Super Bowl is in Los Angeles this year … I just think the ingredients are there to make it happen,” Schefter added.
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If Donald does return, he would be playing his first NFL snaps since 2023, which was his last season before retirement.
He would also be forming a legendary duo upfront with Garrett who, like Donald was before he retired, is a generational talent.
Donald is now 35 years old, though, so it remains to be seen what he has left in the tank. Donald admitted he would “see if that fire can light back up.”
Can the Rams afford Aaron Donald?
Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald (99) celebrates after defeating the Cincinnati Bengals during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Schefter noted that people inside the Rams’ building aren’t sure if it’s financially feasible to bring Donald back.
But the belief around the NFL is Los Angeles can find a way to make it work.
“When you speak to other teams, they’re like, ‘They’ll find the money. They’ll make it happen,’” Schefter said.
According to Over the Cap, the Rams have $18.9 million in cap space currently.
With the Rams being all in ahead of a season in which they are now considered by many to be the favorite to win a Super Bowl, general manager Les Snead won’t hesitate to do what’s necessary to get Donald back on the football field.