The Los Angeles Rams have plenty on their plate to deal with this offseason. Aside from installing the new system, the Rams still have questions regarding their two most important defensive players.
One of them being the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who is looking to get paid as such. While he is certainly more deserving of a lucrative deal, there are no signs that both sides are close to an agreement. Regardless, Donald let it be known he was not going to be distracted by current negotiations during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio:
“I’m just letting my agents handle that side of the thing,” Donald said. “And all I have to do is, you know, keep working, keep myself in top shape. Like I said, my agent is going to handle that side of the thing.”
Fans were relieved to see their former first-team All-Pro participate in the team’s minicamp. However, when asked about the possibility of holding out if a new deal is not done by training camp, Donald did not necessarily rule anything out:
“I’m just working, just grinding and we’ll see what happens,” Donald said.
Donald’s current base salary would pay him just $1.8 million for the 2017 NFL season. With 28 sacks in three years and more quarterback hits than any player in the league this past season, it is hard to imagine a scenario where general manager Les Snead does not pay top dollar.
Donald’s contract will likely tie in with cornerback Trumaine Johnson, who still has yet to sign his franchise tender. With reports that a long-term deal is not likely to get done by the July 19 deadline, Los Angeles will have to get a move on with Donald’s deal to avoid any more uncertainty beyond this season.
