UPDATE - Aaron Donald Contract Extension - SIGNED

[PhillyRam]

Don't kid yourself, AD was as responsible for that Super Bowl win as anybody. If the Bengals get that 1st down, it's almost certain the Bengals kick a FG with their great kicker in the last series of the game, let alone all of the other plays that AD made. His play was so significant that no one would have been surprised if he was Super Bowl MVP.

What happens if AD doesn't like a supposed trade partner and just retires? We get nothing but a massive hole on the Dline.

Bank it that we are done as a Super Bowl contender for the forseeable future, the minute he walks out the door. I kind of like having real dreams and expectations with this team, instead of dreaming over the draft, but that's just me.

And if Greg Gaines doesn't break through and help AD on the 3rd & 1 running play, then AD doesn't stop that play all by himself.

And yes, AD was as responsible or even more responsible for the win, but he still doesn't win shit without Kupp & Stafford or even OBJ. They all had to step up and they did as well.

It is a team game.

 

[So Ram]

If Pittsburgh were to pair him with TJ Watt look out. That would be a return of some blitzburgh lol. You'd better be able to run the ball playing them.


Sorry dude but this is nonsense. Last 10 Super Bowl winners only one had AD. Les and Sean would re-allocate resources next offseason and we'd be just fine.

What would be closed is defending the title. But in general that's extremely tough to do anyway, so if this ends up being a situation where AD wants a retirement check let someone else give it to him.

And btw if they manage to get him signed I'm fine with it. Just again I don't like the direction this is headed. This feels different than the holdout he had prior in that he's over 30 now where DL tend to degrade, he's got 3 years of mid 20s contract value on the books still, and I suspect he wants QB pay. Oh plus he's using retirement as a negotiating tool here too. Rams might not have a choice here but again if they keep McVay and ensure he has a QB that window will remain open.

I’m ok with this & was before Mcvay was HC & his first season in 2017.

The thing I was upset about was paying Gurley before his 5th season, & then to do the same with Jared Goff.

The Rams lost a lot of cap space & then draft picks ? However The Rams have Stafford. Cam Akers staying healthy is big.
I like The Rams depth upfront.Once again it’s WE not ME

 

[Loyal]

If Pittsburgh were to pair him with TJ Watt look out. That would be a return of some blitzburgh lol. You'd better be able to run the ball playing them.


Sorry dude but this is nonsense. Last 10 Super Bowl winners only one had AD. Les and Sean would re-allocate resources next offseason and we'd be just fine.

What would be closed is defending the title. But in general that's extremely tough to do anyway, so if this ends up being a situation where AD wants a retirement check let someone else give it to him.

And btw if they manage to get him signed I'm fine with it. Just again I don't like the direction this is headed. This feels different than the holdout he had prior in that he's over 30 now where DL tend to degrade, he's got 3 years of mid 20s contract value on the books still, and I suspect he wants QB pay. Oh plus he's using retirement as a negotiating tool here too. Rams might not have a choice here but again if they keep McVay and ensure he has a QB that window will remain open.

Totally disagree. AD is a generational talent who so takes care of his body, and who has proven his durability, he's good for another 2-3 years, IMO. Using stats for average NFL players doesn't work for AD because he breaks the mold.

I have to also disagree with you about the last contract negotiations as being different than this. Much of the same resistance to a guy not completing his contract was the same. I even used the exact same Teddy KGB statement video, "Pay that man his money." back then. I know that I'll always be a Rams fan, even if the Rams dump the best player in it's history, but I definitely won't be taking our chances that seriously for the next 5 years.

 

[Loyal]

And if Greg Gaines doesn't break through and help AD on the 3rd & 1 running play, then AD doesn't stop that play all by himself.

And yes, AD was as responsible or even more responsible for the win, but he still doesn't win shit without Kupp & Stafford or even OBJ. They all had to step up and they did as well.

It is a team game.

I believe slightly differently. It's a game of super stars. Our best players overcame what their best players could do. Take AD the All Pro out of the equation, we don't get past the 49ers last year.

 

[Oyster]

I want to commend everyone who's contributed to this thread. My opinion seems to change with every post!

 

[MachS]

A lot of people saying trade AD. No way. He hasn't started to slow down, pay him $30M and move on with life for the next few years. He'll probably retire within 3 years anyways. We don't have a chance to repeat without him.

 

[Merlin]

I want to commend everyone who's contributed to this thread. My opinion seems to change with every post!

Yeah those are always the best threads, the ones that challenge our assumptions and make us think a little more about it.

 

[payote75]

Let me just go on record again I don't ever want to trade AD bit I also like him understand it's a business. Should it get to that point I try to stick to the formula. I don't want picks maybe one but I go for proven ascending younger guys on rookie contracts. There are teams out there that are on the cusp of playoffs or more with young talent to part with.

That's only in case of break glass for emergency!!!

 

[nighttrain]

With three years left on his contract, this position, wanting a new contract, just puts a bad taste in My mouth. Not a good look for our all time great. Just plain greedy
train

 

[PhillyRam]

I believe slightly differently. It's a game of super stars. Our best players overcame what their best players could do. Take AD the All Pro out of the equation, we don't get past the 49ers last year.

You can say the same about Stafford, Kupp, OBJ, Robinson, Whitworth, etc...

Hell, add in the entire OL. Look what bad OL play does to a team.. see Bengals

 

[Loyal]

You can say the same about Stafford, Kupp, OBJ, Robinson, Whitworth, etc...

Hell, add in the entire OL. Look what bad OL play does to a team.. see Bengals

Those guys aren't perennial All Pros. What's hard is that what AD does isn't easily measurable, beyond sacks and TFL's. He makes OC's change their game plans, to avoid him. He takes on double and triple teams almost every snap, because he will wreck the game if they don't. He is almost ALWAYS healthy. I think you are diminishing AD's effect because he's pizzing you off for asking for a new contract when he has years left on his current deal. You and I both know that when the careers of Stafford, Kupp, OBJ, Whit, and Donald are over, only AD will be considered not only a HOFer, but the best of the best in that institution. I'd rather him go in as a lifetime Ram, myself.

 

[Allen2McVay]

... just puts a bad taste in my mouth.

That's what pineapple on pizza does to me!!!

 

[nighttrain]

That's what pineapple on pizza does to me!!!

GADZOOKS!!!!!!!!!

nolo contendre

train

 

[El Chapo Jr]

A lot of people saying trade AD. No way. He hasn't started to slow down, pay him $30M and move on with life for the next few years. He'll probably retire within 3 years anyways. We don't have a chance to repeat without him.

I'm ok with paying him top dollar, but the multi million dollar question is, what amount does AD truly want. If he wants to be on the heels of say, the top paid QBs, he's smoking fucking crack at that point. Hopefully cooler heads prevail and we can sign him which is really what most of us want. The divide is really showing if AD is breaking the bank so bad, it fucks the cap up for any FAs to be or adding more talent.

 

[Mojo Ram]

what about two 1's and two 2's from Pittsburg?

Yeah but are the Rams any good at drafting 1’s and 2’s ?

 

[nighttrain]

Yeah but are the Rams any good at drafting 1’s and 2’s ?

who knows?
McVay has never had a first rounder...
train

 

[dang]

A lot of people saying trade AD. No way. He hasn't started to slow down, pay him $30M and move on with life for the next few years. He'll probably retire within 3 years anyways. We don't have a chance to repeat without him.

It’s ultimately about guaranteed $$ but I’d be shocked if it ends up only being $30m/year. That would be a no brained imo.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Yeah but are the Rams any good at drafting 1’s and 2’s ?

We can trade em for proven players lol

 

[PhillyRam]

Those guys aren't perennial All Pros. What's hard is that what AD does isn't easily measurable, beyond sacks and TFL's. He makes OC's change their game plans, to avoid him. He takes on double and triple teams almost every snap, because he will wreck the game if they don't. He is almost ALWAYS healthy. I think you are diminishing AD's effect because he's pizzing you off for asking for a new contract when he has years left on his current deal. You and I both know that when the careers of Stafford, Kupp, OBJ, Whit, and Donald are over, only AD will be considered not only a HOFer, but the best of the best in that institution. I'd rather him go in as a lifetime Ram, myself.

A lot of HOFers never won a thing. If it's about being a member of a players fan club and celebrating individual awards as much as you celebrate a SB win, then good for you.

However, others realize it's a team game, which is why they went out and upgraded the QB position because they felt that part of the TEAM was holding the team back.

Again, Donald is awesome... understood, but if we have to gut this team because he wants to tear up his current contract, that he agreed to while threatening retirement, then I would have to consider to move on.

I would rather take picks and or his cap $$ and add multiple good young players.

The Chief's just did that with Hill, who is one of the scariest big play guys in the sport... and he is still young. He may or may not be a future HOFer, but he made a huge contribution to the Chiefs success over the last 4 yrs.

Despite that, they moved on. It just might come down to that. Add multiple players and improve multiple position groups while improving long term cap health, vs having a great aging DT, surrounded by a few too many nobody's.

 

[RamDino]

I'm not worried at all. The Rams have a number in their heads, and they will not go over it. AD is just taking his time signing a new deal, which is fine. IMO, the Rams hold all of the cards here. He still has 3 years left on his current mega-deal, he wants to stay with LA and McVay and try to win another super bowl, and the Rams can get several draft picks if he tries to hold out. But that is not what either side wants. And let's be real... QB is the most important position on the team. If AD wanted to be a dick, he could demand a trade and the Rams would receive a King's ransom in return. Wouldn't it be nice to have 2 first-rounders and 2 second-rounders playing on rookie contracts? Personally, I think Snead and McVay have been very effective picking up good players from the draft... imagine if they had a few 1st and 2nd rounders to choose from. And then think of the free agents they could sign with all of the leftover cash. Oh, and they still have Stafford, Kupp, Robinson, Wagner, Ramsey, and everyone else currently on the team. I'm not losing any sleep over this one.