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CROMWELL21
Donald is rightfully trying to break the bank. He is by far the best player on Defense in football.
His fifth year option and the Rams franchising him is still a bargain for the Rams.
1-Why sign him if it doesn't benefit the teams cap as much as the fifth year option and a couple franchise tags (not ridiculous for DTs)?
2-Why Peyton Manning him....meaning kill your cap and quality depth so you can't sign Gurley and Goff.
3-He runs out of Franchise Tags when it's time to tag Goff.
4-After his fifth year option sign Gurley or replace him. He'll be cheaper than Donald, but five years in won't he start his decline? Not worth a long extension.
5-Trade? Not for a couple years.
My point is signing Donald while winning and having depth may be impossible. Keep him until you can't.
Makes sense. I just wish it didn't have to come to this.
He turns 27 this May, and while there's no hard and fast rule about these things, he's probably in decline by 30, depending on other factors like injuries, obviously. And because his game is quickness and elite athleticism, he may end up declining more than other, bigger DTs. In general, they can probably get by a bit longer on sheer bulk. That's not Donald's game.
He's probably a lot heavier than his listed 285, but that's all relative, cuz so are most other DTs. And his body type doesn't look like he can add much more. He looks maxed out, weight-wise.
I wish they could keep him for his entire career. But that may not be possible. This will be a very tough call for the Rams' FO.
