Los Angeles Rams’ superstar Aaron Donald is someone to follow on the trade market this upcoming NFL season, according to a prominent insider.
On Sunday, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk pointed out that the Rams have a tough schedule to start their season. With the Rams facing a strong possibility of being 2-5 and well out of the playoff race by the trade deadline, Florio explained why the club might consider trading the future Hall of Famer:
“If the Rams are looking at Donald retiring or being traded after the second half of the 2023 season anyway, why not trade him if the right offer rolls in at the deadline?…
The cap consequences don’t matter. The Rams are looking at a $48.5 million dead-money bill if he’s traded or retires before June 1. Trading him at some point before October 31 won’t change that.”
And while speaking with colleague Peter King (h/t Ian Van Roy of Sportskeeda), Florio suggested that Donald could be keen on coming home to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers:
“I’m interested in what you said about Aaron Donald, because after the Super Bowl, the vibe was he wanted to get back to the Pittsburgh area… He had grown weary of splitting time between Pittsburgh and L.A. and you’re out there for six, seven months of the year and it really is two different worlds…
After this year he very easily can say, ‘Just trade me and get value for me or I will retire…If we get to October 31 (and) they’re 2-6 or worse…2-6 may be the best case scenario for the Rams…it’s just something to keep an eye on.”
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The Rams already traded away one of their core pieces in All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, sending this future Hall of Famer to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for tight end Hunter Long and a third-round draft choice.
Los Angeles appears keen on at least seeing if they can re-emerge as a contender with Donald, Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp. But as Florio pointed out, the strong possibility of a slow start may prompt the Rams to explore trading the franchise icon.
Donald and the Rams open the 2023 season with a road contest against the Seattle Seahawks.
