What if…? LA Rams Aaron Donald does indeed make good on threats to retire?

Free-agent DL option I

Okay, we’ve talked about some recognizable names on this list. So why would we promote former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson as the top option for the LA Rams? Well, for several reasons to be honest. To begin, he is a nine-year veteran, which means that he is still in NFL prime playing age.

And at 6-foot-3 and 290-pounds, he is a virtual plug-n-play option for the LA Rams defensive front. And his career has included playing for four different NFL teams, affording him the background to have familiarity with virtually any offense the LA Rams will fact in 2022.

Steady Sheldon is a solid option

Sheldon Richardson best playing days occurred when he entered the NFL and was playing in a robust New York Jets defense. Since then, he has had career chapters playing for the Seattle Seahawks, the Cleveland Browns, and two separate one-year stints playing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Richardson may not electrify the fan base by collapsing the pocket on the quarterback relentlessly to turn the game momentum, but he can get pressure on the passer. His forte is run defense, and he does an excellent job at it. Think former LA Rams DL Michael Brockers, but younger. While he is not flashy, he is solid and dependable.

Summing it all up

I really do not believe that there is a significant risk over Aaron Donald making good on his threat to retire this year. But that presumes that the LA Rams are, in fact, making good on progressing in contract talks. But at the same time, the likelihood of Aaron Donald playing for the LA Rams for years into the future has diminished significantly.

Donald has made the transition from playing football to winning a Super Bowl to casting one eye towards becoming wealthy and forging a career after football. If he pulls the plug now, before his next career is fully established, it becomes a poison pill to both the Rams and to himself.

But let’s not lose sight of the fact that Aaron Donald is in the midst of a six-year contract, and three years remain.  The reason that the contract talks are back on the table is the simple fact that all of the guaranteed money – nearly $90 million – has been spent. So that is the most likely reason why the entire matter is making headlines in the here and now.

Much like the current MCU movie plans, it’s a bit like the LA Rams Multiverse of Madness right now. But take a breath and relax. The future is not bleak. The LA Rams have options. The sun will rise tomorrow. And no matter how the LA Rams negotiations with Aaron Donald play out, the LA Rams’ roster is strong enough to get them to a berth in the NFL Playoffs.