With a potential Ndamukong Suh Signing, is Aaron Donald still a priority for the Rams?

The Los Angeles Rams have amazing talent on defense, with potentially more coming.  But with these additions lately, does that get in the way of signing DT Aaron Donald to an extension?

With the news of the week being Free Agent DT Ndamukong Suh visiting the Los Angeles Rams today, the internet is abuzz dreaming about (and fearing) a potential defensive front of Suh and reigning Defensive Player of the Year DT Aaron Donald. Interestingly, Donald is currently in contract negotiations with the Rams, the same set of negotiations that saw him sit out all of training camp last year.

So what effect could Suh’s visit and possible signing with the team have? Might the money they use to pay Suh prohibit a Donald extension?

Steve Wyche says no:

"First and foremost, I was told that the Rams have set aside a budget for Aaron Donald. He is due an extension. He is a priority and no player they bring in is going to do anything to upset that budget. So Aaron Donald, he is going to get that extension."

Donald has been the most important defensive player on the Rams and, arguably, all of football. Locking him up for the foreseeable future has to be the Rams top priority. In addition, the longer they wait to agree to a deal, the more money it will require. I wrote an article last offseason looking at what the numbers could be, and the price has almost certainly gone up since then.  The way players can maximize their contracts is to delay until they hit unrestricted free agency. Case and point: QB Kirk Cousins, who signed the league’s first fully guaranteed contract last week.

Related Story: The Rams could have it all in 2018, except Aaron Donald

The Rams will likely sign a deal that will be the highest of any defensive player in the league. It will sound outrageous…for a season or two. The salary cap will keep going up and other players will hit record paydays as well, making Donald’s deal not look as amazing.

The Rams seem to be saying all the right things about signing a deal with Donald soon. Will talk lead to action?

Time will tell.