Rams all for Aaron Donald returning to pair with Myles Garrett

Aaron Donald has made no public pronouncements that he’ll stay retired or return to play for the Rams.

But the three-time NFL defensive participant of the yr and future Hall of Famer stays a scorching matter, and Rams gamers are conscious of the thrill.

“When you have a guy that’s that serious about even considering coming out, it’s like, ‘OK, we might have a chance,’” security Quentin Lake stated Monday after the Rams accomplished an organized-team exercise exercise.

Chatter about Donald, 35, has been rampant since final week, when the Rams made one other gigantic offseason transfer by buying and selling for defensive finish Myles Garrett.

The risk of pairing Donald with Garrett — a two-time defensive participant of the yr — continues to intrigue each out and in of the Rams’ facility.

Like Lake, defensive lineman Kobie Turner insistently cautioned that no matter Donald decides to do or not do was his former teammate’s prerogative.

But the probabilities…

“To just have two historic, if you will, defensive players on that line together,” Turner stated of pairing Donald and Garrett, “and to have the rest of us who are trying to build up our reputations, and to build to that level of greatness that they’ve been able to garner, I think that would be cool for L.A.”

Said defensive coordinator Chris Shula: “Would love to have him back — with open arms.”

Shula enters his third season overseeing a protection remade by the March commerce for All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie, the signing of cornerback Jaylen Watson and the commerce for Garrett.

With or with out Donald, the Rams are thought to be a favourite to win Super Bowl LXI, which can be performed in February at SoFi Stadium.

But the Rams are usually not hoisting the Lombardi Trophy simply but, Lake stated.

“Some people say if he were to come back, just hand the Lombardi to us on a silver platter — but that’s never the case,” Lake stated. “Is he a fantastic player? Yes.

“Are there so many things we could do in terms of pressures and blitzes and all that stuff? Of course. … It would be a fun year, I’ll say that.”

With quarterback Matthew Stafford — the NFL most respected participant — again to guide the offense, and McDuffie and Watson fixing the group’s best weak spot, the Rams already had been regarded among the many favorites to play within the Super Bowl for the primary time since successful Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium in 2022.

Then normal supervisor Les Snead engineered the deal for Garrett, sending edge rusher Jared Verse, a 2027 first-round draft choose and future second- and third-round picks to the Cleveland Browns for a participant who has 125 ½ sacks in 9 seasons.

Lake, Turner and Shula lamented dropping Verse — “a brother for life,” Turner stated — however they’ve welcomed Garrett.

“You give a great player to get a great player,” Lake stated, “and luckily, we’ve got arguably the best defensive player in the NFL. … We’re not asking Myles to do anything but just be himself.”

Last season, Garrett amassed an NFL season-record 23 sacks.

“We’re going to let him do what he does best,” Shula stated, “and we all know exactly what he does best.”

McDuffie and Watson had been a part of Kansas City Chiefs groups that performed in three consecutive Super Bowls, successful titles in 2023 and 2024. Those groups featured dominating move rusher Chris Jones, so McDuffie is aware of how a participant similar to Garrett permits the protection to “flip the script” and assault offenses.

“You just talk about mentality,” McDuffie stated, “and a swag.”

Donald, who has 111 sacks, would definitely add to that.

Not each participant of their mid-30s might return and play at a excessive degree after sitting out two seasons.

“I don’t think you do that if you’re a normal person,” Turner stated, chuckling. “But A.D.’s not a normal person.”