LA Rams Donald needs help on DL, bring back Ndamukong Suh

LA Rams DT Aaron Donald had a phenomenal season when lined up next to Ndamukong Suh. Rams should target Suh in free agency this year

The LA Rams made a surprising free agency signing in 2018.  When LA Rams paired up DT Aaron Donald with DE Ndamukong Suh, offensive coordinators around the NFL wept a little.  After all, offenses around the league had already targeted Donald as a player they must double and triple team on virtually every given play.  Unfortunately, they had the same designation for Suh.  So in a flash of a moment in 2018, offenses now needed to commit four blockers to two Rams defenders simultaneously.  In the war of numbers, the Rams gained an incredible advantage.

The season that followed next resulted in a career year for Donald.  Since it was now an offense focusing on Suh as well, Donald was unleashed. The pair of defensive linemen combined for 118 tackles, 25 quarterback sacks, 210 yards lost due to sacks, 35 tacklers for losses, five passes defended, four forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. That’s pretty good.

The Rams signed Suh on a one-year rental deal for a hefty cash sum of $14 million.  While the team wanted to keep Suh, the Rams understood he was moving on to the highest bidder. That price was hefty still, which gave a hopeful delay to Suh’s signing on with a new team. Eventually, he signed on with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for another one-year deal for $9.25 million.  That contract expired as well, so Suh is once more an NFL free agent.

The Rams are in the market for a defensive lineman. Suh is on the market once more.  See where this is leading?

Suh is 33 years old, which means despite his production, NFL front offices perceive him on the decline. In some ways, his output has withered a tad.  But while he did a great deal to bolster the Rams success with DT Donald, his own number spiked a bit as well. And he shows a bit of versatility as well, having lined up as a nose tackle, defensive tackle, and defensive end over the years.

Since Suh is getting long in the tooth, the Rams would certain attract his attention by packaging a three year deal averaging $5 million per year. That would give Suh financial security for the next three seasons, and ensure the Rams keeps Donald and Suh paired and terrorizing offense for the next three seasons.

For Rams DT Donald, a move to bring back Suh could help lengthen his own career.  Donald is double-teamed more than any other NFL player.  Paired with Suh, Donald’s focus by the opposing offense was shared with Suh.  And much like Donald, Suh has a nasty habit of clogging blocking lanes, effectively gobbling up blockers and preventing them from engaging their primary or secondary assignments.  For the fans?  Suh would be a huge addition to the team.  He was a fierce competitor in a Rams jersey, a throwback to old school Rams defenders who played the game with an unmatched physicality.