During this offseason, the Los Angeles Rams made significant moves by trading away one of their foundational players, Jalen Ramsey, to the Miami Dolphins.
Now, it appears there might be another surprise in store for Rams fans, as star defensive tackle Aaron Donald’s name could potentially be in trade discussions, according to NFL insider Dan Graziano.
In his analysis of surprises for all 32 NFL teams leading into the 2023 regular season, Graziano suggests that fans “shouldn’t be surprised” if Aaron Donald’s name comes up before the trade deadline. He points out that the Rams are in a rebuilding phase, although they may not openly admit it. The team is dealing with nearly $75 million in dead money on their salary cap this year due to shedding large contracts intentionally.
This approach allows them to absorb the financial hit this season so that they can start adding to their roster again next year.
“The Rams are rebuilding. They won’t admit it, but they are. They’re carrying almost $75 million in dead money on their salary cap this year as a result of big contracts they unloaded, and that’s by design. They want to take the whole hit this year so they aren’t burdened by any of it next year and can start adding again instead of subtracting…
I don’t know Donald’s mind, and I don’t know whether he’d want to play the final two months of this season for a contender if Los Angeles isn’t one. He might want to be able to say he played his whole career with the Rams, in which case, you can disregard this entire premise. But if he does want out in October, Donald could be the most exciting NFL trade deadline pickup of all time. And I’m just saying…Aaron Rodgers didn’t give the Jets $35 million in salary back just so they could sign Dalvin Cook. You wonder why teams clear cap space even when they don’t have an imminent acquisition? It’s in case something like this happens.”
Graziano acknowledges that he doesn’t have insight into Aaron Donald’s mindset and whether he’d be interested in playing the final two months of the season for a contender if the Rams aren’t one. If Donald does seek a change in scenery in October, it could lead to one of the most thrilling NFL trade deadline deals in history.
The Rams had extended contracts for key players like Aaron Donald, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and wide receiver Cooper Kupp after winning Super Bowl 56.
However, their performance last season was a significant disappointment, finishing with a 5-12 record, primarily due to injuries.
While Jalen Ramsey was traded to the Miami Dolphins, the Rams have not hinted at actively seeking to trade any more of their core players.
Nevertheless, the possibility of Donald, Kupp, or Stafford being available in trade discussions may arise if the team finds itself out of playoff contention leading up to the trade deadline.
Under head coach Sean McVay, the Rams have not experienced consecutive losing or non-playoff seasons. Their journey to rebound from a challenging season starts on September 10 with an away game against NFC West rival, the Seattle Seahawks, at Lumen Field.
Got a story or tip for us? Email TMSPN editors at [email protected]
Want More From The World Wide Leader in Sports Entertainment?
For all the latest breaking in sports entertainment news, be sure to follow TMSPN.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
