Rams' Aaron Donald fairytale comes true as Super Bowl-caliber roster gets stronger

The Los Angeles Rams have been teasing fans with the thought of franchise legend Aaron Donald coming out of retirement after being seduced by the allure of playing alongside Myles Garrett one year after he set the record for sacks in a season. Against all odds, that dream is now a reality.

Donald, who turned 35 in May, will sign a one-year contract worth $20 million that could bloat to $30 million with incentives. Donald will now team with the best pass rusher he has ever lined up alongside in his illustrious career. The Rams were already going to be one of the favorites to compete for a championship in 2026, but this has pushed them beyond what has been foreseen.

The Rams will now be the NFL's marquee watch, as fans will get to see their dream pairing of Donald on the interior and Garrett on the outside. Good luck, everyone else in the NFC.

Rams legend Aaron Donald unretires, boosts LA's Super Bowl push

Without a shred of hyperbole, Donald may be the greatest defensive tackle in NFL history. Donald has made a Pro Bowl in all 10 of his past NFL seasons, making First Team All-Pro in all but two of those campaigns. Even at 280 pounds, Donald has proven to have a historically great balance of run defense and pass rush disruption.

Donald recorded 53 tackles and eight sacks in 2023, his last season. While Rams fans shouldn't expect Donald to be the game-altering difference-maker he was in his prime, he should have enough explosiveness and ferocity left over to give Los Angeles someone who still consistently gets into the backfield.

Donald and Garrett are both individually good enough that teams can't commit one lineman to stopping them all the time. This could free up an already talented Rams defensive line for more opportunities due to the gravity Donald provides.

Aaron Donald will improve a deep Los Angeles Rams defensive line

Donald's pairing with Garrett is obviously going to be what makes this unit one of the more destructive lines in recent NFL history, but the depth is what will take things over the top. With two budding young stars in Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner still getting better alongside the eternally underappreciated Poona Ford, this Rams unit will be good enough to make up for any lack of depth elsewhere.

The Donald move does more than simply establish the Rams as 2026's top Super Bowl contender. At this point, with Garrett and Donald leading the defense and the Matthew Stafford/Puka Nacua show on offense, not making the Super Bowl would be a massive disappointment.

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