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RockRam
If he's supposed to be a pass rush DE and not a DT, then 10 sacks is puny.
This is the same kind of argument that was made for Jimmy Graham. That is, he ought to be paid like a WR and not like a TE because they split him out wide.
Well, today, that's just part of the position for a TE. And, BTW, the argument didn't work.
Can't have it both ways. Donald is either a super good DT, or a pretty good DE. Either way, taking a quantum leap over the next highest paid DT is simply not warranted and I don't believe it'll happen.
And, BTW, I 'm not so sure how Donald might perform compared to others if he were made a 4-3 rush DE.
All that said, I do think all the points that are being made on this board about why Donald should redefine what a DT makes is what Donald's agents are saying.
And I'm saying the Rams aren't buying it. What'll happen? I don't know. But it's been my position for well over a year that Donald will NOT get a new long term deal with the Rams because I think he's overplaying his hand. I see him as a Ram this year, then 2019 and 2020 as Tagged, and then gone. Perhaps 2020 tagged and traded.
You are incorrect. Donald has the RIGHT to make the argument if it came to the Rams trying to tag him just like Jimmy Graham years ago made the argument that he was a WR. An arbitrator would ultimately decide whose position between AD and the Rams was stronger. Yes, Graham lost but that doesn't mean that AD would automatically lose if he went that route.
In fact, I think he would have a pretty strong case unlike Graham.
The weak part of his case of course are the sacks. As you point out, 11 sacks for a DE isn't elite. However, sacks are but one metric; it's not the entire argument.
He also led the league in QB pressures. There are several DCs - including Wade and Greg Williams - who are on record as saying that pressures are MORE important than sacks. No other player was responsible for nearly 40% of their teams entire QB pressures.
Donald would also make the case that no one disrupts an opposing defense more than he does and this has been verified with several offensive coordinators being quoted as saying that he's one of the few defensive players that will blow up your game plan and must be schemed for.
And then Donald would present his DPOY hardware.
Donald would present to the arbitrator that his impact looks more Von Miller-like than it does Cox/Casey-like. IOW, his impact is best defensive player in the league impact and just as much, if not more, than all other DEs/OLBs. Could the Rams credibly argue that's not true? I don't think so.
All evidence would come in (not just sack numbers) including the Rams own statements via Demoff that he is the best defensive player in the league and deserves to be paid as such.
Ultimately his argument is going to be that he impacts the game more than any other defensive player, including the best of the best pass rushers, and therefore his tag amount should reflect that. Graham never had the production to get close to that argument. IMO, if this went before an arbitrator, Donald would solidly win his argument that, considering all factors, he looks more like a DE than he does a DT.
As you state, I'm sure Donald's agent is making these arguments. I don't know what the Rams are buying but part of my point is, it doesn't only matter what the Rams buy since any tag classification wouldn't be up to them in the event of a dispute.
