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ramBRO

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Florida_Ram

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No guarantees, but I'm on the train that thinks Donald will be highly productive (no drop off in performance) for another 3 seasons.

This is what gets me when people talk of an eventual "drop off in performance" with respect to Aaron Donald.

I'm under no illusions here...as players grow older, there's an eventual drop-off in performance for a variety of reasons. After all, Father Time remains undefeated.

Father time is not undefeated in sports ramBRO.. I would agree father time is the winner 98% percent or more the winner, but there are enough examples of professional sports athletes

But what, exactly, does a "drop-off in performance" mean for Aaron Donald?

Dude recorded 12.5 regular season sacks this year and another 3.5 during the playoffs. This leads all DT's in both categories (and by a lot for the regular season).

With respect to regular season #'s, the DT that had the 2nd most recorded sacks was Cam Heyward (10). The 3rd most...Chris Jones (9). I won't get into other defensive stats (like TFL or FF's) because Donald leads all DT's in both areas as well (and no...it's not close).

The 2nd highest-paid DT (behind Donald) is Jones who has averaged 8.5 sacks per year for the past 3 seasons. Last year, he inked a 4-year/$85M contract with the Chiefs.

Let's assume that Donald was ONLY able to provide Chris Jones-type #'s this upcoming season. While I would acknowledge that that would be a drop off FOR HIM, those are still outstanding #'s for a DT - enough so that an NFL team would gladly pay him $85M!

Good lawd...what are people thinking?

I might be biased believing Donald won't have (a drop in production) vs father time over the next (3 seasons), but I've seen enough of his work ethic (off-season training/genetic gifts) over the years to believe he's not your normal post 30 year old that declines in professional sports.

There are plenty of examples of professional sports athletes that have defied father time. Not many but there are more than a few.

Some examples of older players that beat father time in the NFL:

(I could list the MLB, Hockey, NBA and Soccer players that beat father time) but there is no need.

My point is Donald is 31 years old and he could easily not have much of a drop off in production for another (3 or more seasons if he puts his mind to it)...

QB
Tom Brady age 43 (Bucs)
Tom Brady age 41 (Patriots)
John Elway age 38 (Broncos)
Johnny Unitas age 37 (Colts)
John Elway age 37 (Broncos)
Jim Plunkett age 36 (Raiders)

WR
Jerry Rice age 40 (Raiders)
Cliff Branch age 35 (Raiders)
Max McGee age 34 (Packers)
Marvin Harrison age 34 (Colts)
Art Monk age 34 (Washington)

RB
Otis Anderson age 34 (Giants)
Jerome Bettis age 33 (Steelers)

OL
Andrew Whitworth age 40 (Rams)
Lomas Brown age 39 (Bucs)
Brian Kitchen age 38 (Patriots)
Matt Birk age 36 (Ravens)

LB
Jack Reynolds age 37 (49ers)
Ray Lewis age 37 (Ravens)
Jason Kyle age 37 (Saints)
Rickey Jackson 36 (49ers)
Ted Hendricks age 36 (Raiders)

DL
Dave Butz age 37 (Washington)
Michael Strahan age 36 (NY Giants)
Reggie White age 35 (Packers)

DB
Eric Weddle age 37 (Rams)
Otis Smith age 36 (Patriots)
Willie Brown age 36 (Raiders)
Rod Woodson age 34 (Raiders)