The Los Angeles Rams have taken to the media a whole lot this offseason as a way to indicate All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald deserves a substantial raise from his rookie contract.
Unfortunately for both Donald the Rams, nothing has come to fruition on this end. And with training camp set to get going later in July, time is rapidly running out.
Donald skipped three weeks of OTAs earlier this offseason as a way to make a point to the Rams. Now, with camp on the horizon, there are suggestions that he’ll be a hold out.
If we were to ask teammate and fellow defensive tackle Michael Brockers about Donald’s potential absence from camp, it seems that he’s supporting player over team.
“At the end of the day, that’s our brother,” Brockers told Ross Tucker and Torry Holt on SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Pro Football Talk). “We’ll go to war with him and for him. We respect any decision. He deserves it. You look at the record, being the most dominant defensive tackle in the league, and he’s just making all these phenomenal numbers and stuff like that. And, obviously, pay the man. Obviously. He’s put in him some major work for this team and I think he deserves it.”
Donald, 26, has been among the most-dominating defensive players in the NFL over the past couple years. Last season saw the former first-round pick rack up 47 tackles, eight sacks and two forced fumbles en route to his second consecutive All Pro nod.
There’s not a single objective person out there who doesn’t believe he deserves a substantial raise from the $3.3 million he’s set to make this upcoming season.
With two years remaining on his rookie deal, Donald is not negotiating from a position of strength. But a lengthy hold out in Sean McVay’s first season as the Rams’ head coach would sure be a bad look for the fledgling franchise.