When his career is over, Russell Wilson will probably be remembered as one of the most talented players this generation encountered.
But the Seattle Seahawks quarterback feels similarly about Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald.
“He’s probably the best defensive player I’ve ever played against,” Wilson said, per Jessamyn McIntyre of 710 ESPN Seattle.
According to Gregg Bell of the News-Tribune, Wilson added Donald will be “one of the best that’s ever done it.” Bell noted the NFL stars exchanged jerseys following Seattle’s 16-10 win over Los Angeles in October.
Defensive tackles usually aren’t household names, but Donald really is that special. The 26-year-old has become one of the most feared defenders in the league. In all four of his professional seasons, Donald has recorded at least eight sacks.
Though the rest of his statistics aren’t overly flashy, a major reason why is opponents scheme to take Donald out of the play. That typically means using double teams in attempt to reduce his impact, which limits Donald’s presence on the stat sheet but certainly not in the film room.
Wilson, who has played with several elite defenders, is the NFL’s best at escaping pressure. But he understands and respects the difference a player like Donald can provide in the trenches.