In the months since the Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl 56, lingering doubt remained over star defensive tackle Aaron Donald’s future.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year aired the possibility of stepping into retirement after eight seasons. All that chatter was finally put to rest on Monday after the Rams worked out a much-deserved extension with their defensive star.
According to ESPN, Los Angeles has made the 31-year-old the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league.
The Rams reworked Donald’s deal to give him a $40 million raise over the last three years of his existing contract, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making him the first non-quarterback to eclipse $30 million per season. The reworked deal brings the total value of Donald’s contract to $95 million over three years.
Donald’s contract extends through the 2024 season while including a $46.5 million signing bonus. The move effectively keeps the eight-time Pro Bowler under contract through at least the next three seasons if Donald chose to play the 2024 season for an additional $30 million guaranteed.
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Donald has put forth an impressive NFL career, where he’s earned eight Pro Bowl nods, seven First-Team All-Pro selections, three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. His return keeps the Rams’ defense anchored by arguably the best player on that side of the ball.
Los Angeles is aiming to repeat as Super Bowl champions, which will be a daunting task ahead with the NFL’s toughest schedule. The Rams have retooled their roster by adding star wide Allen Robinson and linebacker Bobby Wagner.
