The #RamsHouse are in discussion with Aaron Donald on a new contract
— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) March 2, 2022
Aaron Donald still has three years left on his current contract, but it seems he’s in line for another extension after helping the Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI. According to Michael Duarte of NBC Los Angeles, the Rams are in talks with Donald about a new contract.
Incredibly, Donald is only the 23rd-highest-paid player in the NFL right now in terms of annual salary. There are also four defensive players who are making more than him annually – T.J. Watt, Joey Bosa, Myles Garrett and Khalil Mack – and his $22.5 million salary is just $1.5 million more than Leonard Williams, DeMarcus Lawrence and DeForest Buckner are making.
No disrespect to any of those three talented defenders, but Donald should be closer to Watt’s range ($28 million per year), if not more. He’s a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and just earned his seventh first-team All-Pro selection in 2021.
Furthermore, Donald has no guaranteed salary left in 2022, 2023 or 2024, though he does still have $5 million roster bonuses due in each of the next three years, which will be paid on the second day of the new league year.
This past season, Donald had 12.5 sacks, 25 QB hits and 19 tackles for a loss, once again being selected to the Pro Bowl and finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
