Sportsnaut
Aaron Donald retired after the 2023-24 NFL season; however, a comeback is truly on table. After the Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett, speculation surrounding Donald’s potential return began to skyrocket. So, what is the latest on the 35-year-old star’s decision to come back to the NFL and terrorize offensive lines with Garrett?
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter joined Get Up provided a major update on Donald’s potential return to the Rams. While he continues to go through the process of a return, the decision is far from final.
“The [Los Angeles Rams] are giving [Aaron Donald] his space to make the decision on his own,” Schefter said on Get Up. “They don’t want to say, ‘We really want you back, come back,’ and all of a sudden midway through the season he’s saying, ‘Why did I come back?’ So, what’s going on in the interim is he’s gone back to the facility, he’s put on the pads, he’s gone through football drills, which he hasn’t done for a couple of years. He’s trying to decide, finally and officially, whether or not he wants to do this after being out of the sport for two years. The Rams want him back, it’s an open invite, he has to sign off on coming back.”
The Rams have an “open invite” on the table for Donald. A return to the NFL is far from guaranteed. However, it would form one of the best defensive duos in quite some time.
Led by Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles already has a very strong offense. The Rams have Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Kyren Williams as playmakers, while the offensive line is one of the best in the NFL. However, the team’s biggest issue has been on the defensive side of the field, specifically the secondary.
The Rams decided to go “all-in” on fixing those defensive issues. Earlier in the NFL offseason, Los Angeles traded for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie. The move gave the Rams a legitimate lockdown corner. Then, the organization pulled off a stunning trade for Garrett, sending out Jared Verse and draft picks.
If Donald returned to the Rams and performed at en elite level, it could elevate the Rams from contenders to Super Bowl favorites. After all, Donald still performed at a high level in his final NFL season. Adding Garrett, Donald, and McDuffie to the roster would arguably become the most-improved offseason for an NFL team in recent memory.
Los Angeles is already poised to have a strong defense with Garrett and McDuffie. Therefore, if Donald stayed in retirement, it wouldn’t be detrimental. The 35-year-old star would simply take the organization to the next level. Donald and Garrett have arguably been the best defensive players in the NFL over the last decade.
If Donald and Garrett are playing on the same team during the 2026-27 NFL season, it would be a nightmare for opposing offenses....
