49ers' potential Aaron Donald 'solution' unlikely to faze Rams' new defense

It's been an eventful offseason for the Los Angeles Rams, to say the least. After acquiring Myles Garrett from the Browns, there's been buzz that franchise legend Aaron Donald might unretire to join his old team and wreak havoc on opposing offenses once again.

The rumor surely struck no small twinge of fear into the Rams' division foes, who would not only have to slow down Garrett, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year, but Donald, a three-time award winner, as well. Even with Donald being 35 years old, that would be no easy task whatsoever.

49ers fans are among those terrified by Donald's potential return to the NFC West. Peter Panacy of Niner Noise thinks he has a solution, however. Panacy floated that, if Donald does unretire and rejoin the Rams, San Francisco should pick up the phone and call offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill.

49ers could have solution to Aaron Donald's potential Rams return

Rams fans are probably asking themselves, "Who is Daniel Brunskill?" That's a fair question. Brunskill is still unsigned in free agency after a one-year stint in Miami. How would he answer San Francisco's problems?

Well, according to Panacy, Brunskill, a former 49ers offensive lineman, is Donald's kryptonite.

"Brunskill, age 32, remains a free agent after spending last season with the Miami Dolphins, primarily in a reserve role. Yet 49ers fans will remember his heyday years donning the red and gold as a versatile and starting-caliber lineman, primarily 2020 through 2022. And during those campaigns, for reasons nearly every fan cannot explain, Brunskill regularly shut Donald down and limited his in-game impact.

"Seriously, why Brunskill regularly held his own against arguably the best interior defensive lineman in recent memory is a mystery. But it was the case when the Niners and Rams squared off twice a year."

It is crazy to admit but, looking at the numbers, Brunskill was actually effective versus Donald. What's mind-boggling is that, with the 49ers, he limited one of the best pass-rushers of all-time, then failed to stick as a starter elsewhere. What an extreme example of every Monday morning quarterback's favorite cliche, "it's all about the matchup." That's the NFL for you.

If Donald does rejoin the Rams, they'll easily have the best pass-rush in the entire NFL. And while, yes, Brunskill put Donald in his place when the two squared off before, there are a couple of things to consider.

One, that was years ago and, two, Garrett is in the fold now, too, which will make life easier for everyone on the defensive line. That includes Donald, a future first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Rams fans hope to see the legend retake the field in 2026. If he does and the Niners think they have a solution, bring it on, I guess.

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