Aaron Donald Shuts Down J.J. Watt Comparisons

It is without much question that Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, Aaron Donald, has become on of the NFL’s best defenders over the last two years. Last season, Donald became the league’s defensive rookie of the year, and after a big 2015, he is being considered for defensive player of the year.

In fact Pro Football Focus, rated Donald as the NFL’s best player. According to PFF’s grading scale, Donald maxed out with the highest possible grade of 99.9, which, marks Houston Texans‘ defensive end, J.J. Watt‘s best season. To put things simply, since Pro Football Focus began grading players, Donald had one of the best single-season performances in their grading scale.

“I still have a lot of work to do to have my name associated in a conversation with that guy (Watt)and I gotta continue to put up the numbers to match.” Aaron Donald

By dominating the game the way that he has, Donald has earned comparison’s to Watt, who is considered to be the NFL’s most dominant defenders from experts around the league. Being at the Pro Bowl for the second straight season, Donald had to answer questions about the comparison to Watt.

The Rams defensive tackle said,

"“That’s pretty cool. He’s one of the best defensive players. When he’s done he’ll be considered one of the best defensive players to ever play the game. The things he does, the numbers he puts up, it’s hard to do. To put up 20.5 sacks and come back and do 17.5, he’s a special player and to have his name associated with mine, it’s pretty cool. I still have a lot of work to do to have my name associated in a conversation with that guy and I gotta continue to put up the numbers to match. I never let nothing ever get to me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. People are going to doubt Aaron Donald and they’re going to like Aaron Donald. But at the end of the day, my job is to make plays and let them speak for me. People will change their mind eventually, right?”"

Donald has been an impressive player since joining the league last season. The drive to become great is apparent when you see quotes like this. Taken 13th overall, the defensive tackle was considered to be too small and would get pushed around at the next level. Since then, the fact that general manager Les Snead got him that far in the draft is considered a steal.

Donald will play in this year’s Pro Bowl which is set for Sunday at 7 p.m. ET at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu and will be broadcast live on ESPN.