Turf Show Times
Braden Fiske was selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the second piece to usher in the post-Aaron Donald era. After Donald’s retirement, the Rams immediately invested premium draft capital in rebuilding the defensive line, pairing Fiske with Kobie Turner as two of the franchise’s foundational interior defenders. But what if that transition never truly happened? What if Donald decides to return for this season?
While the possibility still remains, it raises an intriguing question: would Braden Fiske welcome the opportunity to play alongside arguably the greatest defensive tackle in NFL history, or would he seek a trade if it significantly reduced his role?
There are compelling arguments on both sides.
The most obvious reason is also the simplest: very few young defensive tackles would pass up the opportunity to learn from Aaron Donald.
Donald wasn’t just an elite player—he redefined what the position could be. His preparation, practice habits, hand usage, leverage, conditioning, and relentless pursuit of perfection have been praised by teammates and opponents throughout his career. For a player entering just his third NFL season, spending every day alongside Donald could accelerate Fiske’s development more than any amount of playing time elsewhere.
Even if Donald reclaimed a starring role, Fiske would still benefit from seeing firsthand how the future Hall of Famer studies film, prepares during the week, and attacks offensive linemen on Sundays. That type of mentorship cannot be replicated.
The other reason is that the Rams suddenly have one of the deepest defensive fronts in football with Donald, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, and Poona Ford. Rather than forcing someone into a reserve role, defensive coordinator Chris Shula could become more creative with his personnel packages.
The Rams could frequently deploy four defensive tackles across the line against run-oriented offenses. Turner has already shown enough athleticism to align at multiple spots, while Donald has historically played anywhere from defensive tackle to defensive end depending on the matchup. Fiske’s motor and versatility also make him capable of handling multiple alignments.
Instead of taking snaps away from one another, the Rams could simply rotate four starting-caliber defensive tackles throughout the game, keeping everyone fresh over a 17-game season. Considering how physically demanding the position has become, reducing individual snap counts may actually improve overall production while limiting injuries.
If the Rams successfully expanded their defensive packages, Fiske could still receive plenty of meaningful snaps while simultaneously learning from Donald.
The opposite scenario is just as realistic.
If the Rams continue operating primarily out of the same base and nickel defenses they used last season, someone has to leave the field.
Donald, Garret, Young, and Turner would likely be locked into starting roles. Poona Ford was signed to stabilize the run defense and has proven himself as one of the league’s better interior run defenders. That leaves Fiske potentially becoming the odd man out despite being one of the organization’s recent premium draft investments.
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