I think the why of it could be a very practical reason.
There is no denying that Donald is a generational player.
But, there is also no denying that the cost to keep him is going to be huge. The Rams might feel that cost is prohibitive at the same time understanding that it is likely that somebody in FA would pay it. Look at the Watkins deal, for example.
So I think the FO and ownership may feel that as much as they wish it wasn't necessary, the best thing to do is milk Donald's time here for all it's worth and then move on. They simply will not get the return on investment in Donald that such a huge sum (probably $20mil + per year) ought to bring.
It's simply the way the NFL system works that players can do so well that they can price themselves right off their team.
And BTW: I can easily see the same thing happening with Gurley. It's just a fact of life the way the CBA is structured and FA operates.
Of course this is all my speculation with no more info than anyone else has.
