It's clear what winning a Super Bowl meant to Aaron Donald. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year and seven-time All Pro tackle has had a summer-long celebration since the Rams defeated the Bengals in February, and it looks like if the Rams can't get to his number on a contract extension the celebration might never stop.
Donald is reportedly still mulling retirement, something that was initially reported by NBC's Rodney Harrison before the Super Bowl. The 30-year-old star is also looking for a contract that would reset the defensive market, topping T.J. Watt's $28 million per season.
That's a tall order for a Rams team looking to stay competitive into the future. While an extension and restructure could allay Donald's $26.5 million cap hit this year, the Rams still have four years of Matthew Stafford's large deal to consider. Donald is under contract for the next three seasons.
According to ESPN, Donald still has retirement on the table. Per Jeremy Fowler, if Donald's demands are "not met, retirement can still go down."
Why the Rams should extend Aaron Donald
It's Aaron Donald. By the time he's done, Donald might be the single most influential player in franchise history. His dominance will certainly be nothing short of legendary in NFL lore. If he wants more money, the Rams have to give him more money. Retirement is clearly a very real thing for him, and this offseason has proven that.
Donald had 12.5 sacks last year, and there's no indication his dominance in the league is receding. More than the numbers, his impact on the field is palpable. For a defensive tackle to have their presence felt on every play is extraordinary, and letting him go could well destabilize the Rams defense.
Why the Rams shouldn't extend Aaron Donald
Donald is under contract for three more years, and it's a hard sell to give in to extension demands when that's the case. Restructures are a norm in the NFL, particularly with teams that operate like the Rams, but this isn't a restructure or a raise: It's a full-on salary rework. That could be hard for the Rams to reconcile with, especially where their books are at currently.
Even if they do this, who knows if Donald ends up playing out the entirety of his contract. This Super Bowl win has clearly had a huge impact on Donald, but the Rams still have a team to run. Donald has already said he wants to 'run it back' this upcoming season. Perhaps it's in the Rams' best interest to wait him out and see if this is a leverage play.