Rams have given Aaron Donald the opportunity, and now it's for him to decide

What could the Los Angeles Rams possibly offer Aaron Donald to lure him out of retirement? He was wise enough to walk away on his terms. He is healthy. He is wealthy. He accomplished every goal he set for himself.

Donald stepped away because he no longer felt the eye of the tiger. In mountaineering terms, he had climbed every peak and planted his flag. The NFL isn't mountain climbing, but if it were, another pinnacle has appeared on the horizon.

This one - capping the Rams' all-in efforts with his own seismsic return - could be tempting enough to coax Donald back.

His career intersected with some of the best in the business. Donald played alongside Robert Quinn, Chris Long, Ndamukong Suh, Leonard Floyd, Von Miller, and even Byron Young. But through it all, the Rams were unable to pair him with a long-time partner on the defensive front.

Pairing him with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett would be as close to perfection as LA has gotten.

If Donald returns, it will be in dominant form

Let's be quite clear. Donald is in no rush to return. He is, and was as a player, infamously disciplined in his workouts, as evident in his intense training sessions while his Rams colleagues vacationed in Cabo. That's just how the former Pittsburg Panther rolls.

That the All-Pro playmaker is back at LA's practice facilities is, for all intents and purposes, just one of the first steps in the process.

In mid-July, NFL insider Ian Rapoport speculated that Donald will return to the team in the middle of training camp. While Rapoport has the wisdom of inside sources, it's also hard to see Donald showing up merely to work out. If and when he returns, he will be in NFL-ready shape. That means late in the preseason, at the earliest.

Garrett offers new potential partner in crime

Former Rams edge rusher Jared Verse, who was exhausted after trying to match Donald in an offseason workout a year ago, remains skeptical that Donald will unretire, at least insofar as he needs to "hear it from the horse's mouth."

That workout was more than one athlete matching physical prowess with another. It was a symbolic passing of the baton from Donald to his successor.

But that succession plan derailed when Verse was traded for Garrett. The Horns have hitched their wagon to the latter's defensive dominance.

Donald hasn't had the chance to test or collaborate with Garrett. That opportunity could prove irresistible.

Donald can add his to name to potential juggernaut of a defense

Defensive coordinator Chris Shula was burdened with a shoestring budget in his first two seasons. Now, the Rams have finally loosened the purse strings, and the potential of the upgraded defense is mind-boggling. It's not hyperbole to say that Donald's return would help kickstart Shula's legacy.

History is not predetermined. It's a collection of tales that, once written down, grow in magnitude and respect. So it is with LA's defensive potential. In training camp, the Horns merely look good on paper. But once the season begins, it's sink or swim.

Donald knows he has a golden opportunity in front of him. The legendary player senses the chance to belong to a legendary group. For those who have followed Donald's career, from the lowest of lows to the highest of heights, that has been the missing piece.

His influence in Los Angeles was so profound that, in 2021, the entire organization rallied to deliver a Lombardi Trophy to his grasp. Now, team and player have come full circle. The narrative is completely reversed.

In 2026, it's the Rams who are desperate for a Super Bowl victory. Donald is in position to step up and help carry them to the promised land. That part would not be so different, after all.

The story already feels like a red-carpet event. And for a man who broke the mold of the defensive tackle position, a new challenge has materialized. Don't expect Donald to back down. He finally has a chance to join a roster worthy of his talents.

Donald will answer as only he can.

As always, thanks for reading.

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