I am on record as saying that the Rams should NOT make Donald the highest paid defensive player in the league. He is a great player but it's the wrong position to pay that much money to. Has Suh elevated the Lions or Dolphins? Hardly. And he's about as good as it gets at DT.
The idea that AD is going to decide games I can't buy. A great contributor? Absolutely. Are the Rams better with him? Of course. But he's a complementary piece; not a centerpiece.
The Donald thing is overblown. First, this team will not succeed or fail according to the presence of Aaron Donald. Second, unless he has lost his mind (it's possible) and is going to quit football or lose an entire year's salary to continue his holdout, he will be here soon.
Frankly, I could care less if he's happy or not about his wallet. He's a first round draft pick, for Pete's sake, and has already earned millions. If he has to be happy and filthy rich to give it his all and play to his usual high level, rather than honor his current contract and paycheck, then he's a fraud. I don't think he's like that.
All it took was trading for Watkins and the Donald talk has all but vanished. If the Rams O looks more exciting, the Donald talk will become back page because Wade can scheme and rotate players to have good DT play. Not to Donald's level of course, but the Rams have some decent depth there. And then there will be a lot of vet players available in about 3 more weeks if the Rams want to go that route.
Aaron Donald is NOT the be all end all for the Rams that he and/or his agents clearly think he is or he wouldn't be holding out with 2 years left on his contract. He may be finding that out (I hope).
