Aaron Donald will be eligible to sign a contract extension after the 2016 season ends.If AD and his agent are unable to work out an extension, the Rams will obviously pickup the 5th Year Option of his rookie first round deal, which would make Donald have to wait until 2018 for his GIGANTIC PAYDAY.
We should expect AD's agent to ask for the moon with extension numbers.
2013 First Round Picks: 5th Year Option Deadline was on May 2, 2016
(Tavon Austin and Alec Ogletree) both had their 5th Year Options picked up.
A.Ogletree was Not extended and will play the 2017 season with a base salary of $8,369,000.
T.Austin on August 27, 2016 was extended through the 2021.. A deal worth $42 million, with $30 million guaranteed.
Aaron Donald was the 13th Pick in the 2014 NFL draft.Aaron Donald is NOT Alec Ogletree or Tavon Austin.. He is considered the Rams best player so it would be foolish to expect the same smooth course of action that happened with Austin and Tree..
Call this speculation but there is a possibility that negotiations could get UGLY because there is no way that AD plays both his 2017 and 2018 seasons under the current structure of his contract.
If the Rams are willing to give AD a contract extension like they did with Austin last August, it will likely be for terms that make him the highest paid DL in the NFL.
2017 TOP 6 Highest Paid DT's1) Ndamukong
SUH... $19,062,500
2) Fletcher
COX......... $17,100,000
3) Marcell
DAREUS.. $16,095,686
4) Gerald
MCCOY..... $15,866,667
5) Malik
JACKSON... $14,250,000
6) Michael
Brockers.. $11,083,333
Brockers at number 6? Can you imagine how much cap space the Rams DT's will eat up when Donald gets his?
As I mentioned before.... It would seem plausible for the new regime to at least contemplate shopping AD's trade value.
Risky business? of course it is but AD's trade value after the 2016 season ends....
would appear to be very ripe for a Large Harvest.