Last year, Aaron Donald skipped offseason workouts, training camp and the entire preseason as he attempted to pressure the Los Angeles Rams into a new contract. One year later and things are looking eerily similar.
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Donald will not attend Rams offseason workouts this year, and that he has “growing consternation” about his contract situation.
Set to play out the final year of his rookie deal without a new long-term contract, Donald is slated to earn just $6.89 million in 2018. We say “just,” because, as the premier defensive tackle in the NFL he’s due to earn well over double that annually on a new deal.
Los Angeles is said to have budgeted and planned for Donald to get his long-term deal before the 2018 season begins. As part of this process, Brandin Cooks is likely to get an extension, which would clear necessary cap space for such a deal.
In his first four years as a pro, Donald has racked up 204 tackles, 39 sacks, nine forced fumbles and two fumble returns. He’s earned first-team All-Pro honors three times, while being voted to the Pro Bowl every year.