The 2017 NFL season was an exciting one for the Los Angeles Rams as they surpassed preseason expectations. In Sean McVay’s first year as head coach, the Rams finished with an 11-5 record and the NFC West crown.
Most of the media attention focused on Los Angeles’ new and improved offense, but the team was also one of the more productive defenses in the league under defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Aaron Donald, who held out the beginning of the year, had arguably his most dominant season in his career during the 2017 NFL campaign.
It appears the nation took notice of Donald’s season because according to Rams, the defensive tackle was named the 2017 AP Defensive Player of the Year:
Destructive Donald.@AaronDonald97 is the 2017 Defensive Player of the Year!
Congrats, #AD99! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/jjVKSpfYie
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) February 3, 2018
The honor is well deserved given just how productive Donald was up front for the Rams. The four-time Pro Bowler finished the year with 11 sacks and five forced fumbles, consistently wreaking havoc in the opposing backfield and single-handedly ruining offensive drives.
Les Snead has already stated that signing Donald to an extension is one of the front office’s main priorities in the offseason and rightfully so. Donald has proven to be one of the league’s most elite talents and Los Angeles should try to keep him at all costs.
