LA Rams Aaron Donald is his own toughest competition

LA Rams Aaron Donald is one of the most consistently elite players in the modern era NFL. Each season, the man simply shows up in better shape than the previous year, more determined than ever to make a huge impact for the Rams and on the NFL. And each year, that is exactly what he does.

And yet, the Rams have fallen short. Perhaps not for much longer.

This was never going to be an easy path for Donald. In fact, despite posting Herculean production when attending the University of Pittsburgh,  twelve teams passed him by. Some did so out of more pressing needs elsewhere. Some did so because they felt it made more sense to choose a larger player.

Donald entered the 2014 NFL Draft at 6-foot-1 and 285-pounds. Despite a draft profile that touted his explosive play and great work ethic, his weaknesses listed marginal size with little growth potential. Seems like he’s grown well enough in stature in the eyes of the NFL so far.

He has a pitbull mentality. A fierce relentless drive to get to the quarterback or ball carrier that doesn’t subside when he steps off of the football field. That drive pushes him to work out harder, eat more vigilantly, hydrate more frequently, and rest more regularly than anyone else. He is already playing lights out. But each year there is something more to prove, some reason to train harder, some level of excellence to achieve.

He faces the toughest competition on the planet. He tries to outdo himself each year.

In NFL simulators, he exceeds the game’s upper limit. If the best achievable ranking in Madden is 99, then Aaron Donald is about at 102 right now.  Awards continue to pile up, In fact, it’s likely a more shocking headline now when Donald does not win the award that he is nominated for. In fact, he is expected to win the DPOY each year now, an award that NFL players strive to win just once.

And he meets those expectations. In fact, he exceeds them.

The LA Rams have a lot of work to do this offseason and are already underway. Coach hirings, salary cap strategies, free agent forecasts, and draft decisions. But they can count on Aaron Donald to do what Aaron Donald does best. He will prepare once more and arrive at a new NFL season in peak shape. After all, he’s not competing against other NFL players.

He is competing against himself, the stiffest competition in the NFL.