The Los Angeles Rams have been in win-now mode for the majority of Aaron Donald’s career. At least since Sean McVay took over as head coach ahead of Donald’s fourth season in the NFL in 2017. Since then, the Rams have traded players and draft picks without hesitation, and their aggressive, all-in approach has resulted in two Super Bowl appearances and one gleaming championship ring. This is to say that the Rams were correct to place all of their chips in the center of the table under the leadership of Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead.
Things have changed since then. The roster is thinner now than it has been since the franchise relocated from St. Louis to Los Angeles, owing in part to the high volume of draft picks the Rams have sent out the door and the team’s top-heavy nature. As the trade deadline approaches, the Rams are 3-4 and at a crossroads in their season. Sean McVay has already stated that he did not believe the team had the resources to be as aggressive as in previous years. When asked the same question, Aaron Donald attempted to sidestep it as if he were a quarterback attempting to evade a sack on his own.
“That isn’t my call,” Donald told reporters on Thursday, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “That is not my place to say.” That is not my responsibility. My job is obviously to go out there and play, to perform. If they choose to do so and bring in some guys who can help, that’s fantastic. But my main priority is to play football and let them handle the rest.”
Aaron Donald is the only Rams player who has the right to throw his weight around a little bit. Donald has been named first-team All-Pro seven consecutive seasons, is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and has established himself as one of the NFL’s most dominant defensive players.
I can’t imagine saying ‘no’ to an intimidating presence like Aaron Donald about anything, so I’m guessing he’ll get his way if he wants the Rams to be aggressive at the deadline.
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