Aaron Donald Retires and Leaves Gaping Hole in Rams Defense

One of the greatest players in NFL history has retired.

Yes, Aaron Donald really is that great, and that's why his retirement will send seismic waves throughout the NFL.

Donald won't just go down as one of the greatest defensive tackles to ever play the game. He'll undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest defenders ever, both in the modern era and all time.

Donald played 10 NFL seasons. He made 10 Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro teams, and he only missed out on going 10-for-10 on All-Pro teams because he was a rookie once (2014) and missed six games (2022).

Donald won Defensive Rookie of the Year and is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. From 2015-2022, he finished top five in DPOY voting an incredible seven consecutive seasons.

What made Donald such a special player was how complete his game was and how much pressure he could produce up the middle when so few other players produce sacks from that spot consistently. Think about where sacks come from in the modern era — they're from those hybrid outside pass rushers coming off the edge.

Not Donald. He led the league with 20.5 sacks in 2018, a near all-time record, and he recorded at least eight sacks in all but one season. Donald retires with 111.0 sacks, an average of 11 per season — as a defensive tackle! It's a remarkable feat. He led the league in tackles for a loss twice, too, averaging 17.6 per season along with 26.0 quarterback hits.

Donald was an absolute monster, in the best way possible. He's a no-doubt-about-it, first-ballot-and-then-some Hall of Famer whose Super Bowl win (2022) capped off a career in which he effectively accomplished everything a player could hope to accomplish, all in just a single decade.

Needless to say, Donald's absence leaves a massive, gaping hole in the Rams defense.

Remember Raheem Morris's outstanding Super Bowl defense from two seasons ago? There's just one starter left from that unit now — linebacker Ernest Jones. Jalen Ramsey is gone. Von Miller, Leonard Floyd, A'Shawn Robinson, all gone. Morris is a head coach again. And now Donald is retired.

The Rams entered last season with one of the least talented defenses on paper. It was effectively Donald and 10 guys most fans had never heard of before.

Given that personnel and all of its unknowns, that defense was surprisingly successful, finishing around the middle of the league in many metrics. Kobie Turner made a late DROY push while playing next to Donald. Fellow rookie Byron Young also stepped in immediately and provided some pass rush. Sophomores Cobie Durant and Quentin Lake took steps forward in the secondary.

Now Turner will have to show he can do it without Donald absorbing double teams every play, and you have to figure the Rams will invest heavily in their defense in the NFL Draft considering the offense is basically set after a terrific season from Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.

Look for one offensive tackle and a slew of defensive picks, and that could work well for a team that drafted and developed so well a year ago.

The Rams also added one of the best relatively unknown defenders in safety Kam Curl. He comes over from the Commanders, and this will likely be his defense now. L.A. also brings back CB Darious Williams after a bit of a breakout season in Jacksonville.

This Los Angeles defense has some talent, but it will be an uphill battle without Donald. You don't lose one of the best to ever do it and not feel some pain.

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The Rams made the playoffs and lost by just one point in the Wild Card Round to the Lions, a team that was up big on the 49ers at halftime with a chance to go to the Super Bowl. This Rams team is a real threat against anyone when things are clicking.

But the NFC West is a brutal division, with the NFC-favorite 49ers leading the way, plus what should be renewed efforts from the Seahawks and the Cardinals. It's a tough road ahead for the Rams, and Donald is one of the few players in the league who can retire and upend an entire defense.

It's hard to think Los Angeles is anything other than a bottom-10 defense without Donald, and that leaves a pretty thin margin for error, no matter how good the offense is. Think twice before investing in Rams futures until we see more from their defense, especially because we so rarely get everyone healthy on this offense at once.

For today, celebrate a truly elite player, one of the greatest to ever do it.

Aaron Donald — you will be missed!