Why Rams need to bring back Aaron Donald to make season extra Super

A nearly perfect Rams offseason has firmly planted them back in the Super Bowl hunt.
Reigning MVP Matthew Stafford is back for at least one more year.
All-world edge rusher Myles Garrett has miraculously been added to a ferocious defensive line.
All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie now patrols the secondary. His former Chiefs teammate, Jaylen Watson, is joining him in Los Angeles to help turn the Rams’ only weakness into a certifiable strength.
The Rams have the best roster in the NFL, hands down.
But why stop there?
There is one more big move the Rams can make. And it’s a whopper, to say the least.
It’s time to bring Aaron Donald home for one last run.
Whatever the Rams have to do, and whatever power of persuasion is needed from coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead, the Rams need to make it happen.
Yes, Donald is now 35 years old and hasn’t played football in three years.
And it would be unrealistic to expect him to turn back the clock and be the Aaron Donald we all remember, terrorizing NFL offenses during his illustrious Hall of Fame-caliber career.
But even at 75% of his former self, which is a reasonable expectation, Donald would still be a force to be reckoned with. In a condensed role in which his snap count drops from the 55 to 60 he typically played per game to somewhere in the 25 to 30 range, his impact could be maximized.
Bringing Donald back wouldn’t guarantee the Rams would be crowned Super Bowl champions at SoFi Stadium in February, but he would absolutely make a huge difference.
And it might not be as far-fetched as it seems, either.
Multiple league sources indicate the greatest defensive player in Rams history is seriously contemplating coming out of retirement to lend a massive helping hand to the club’s Super Bowl aspirations.
Inspired by the Rams’ addition of Garrett, and motivated by the tantalizing possibilities of joining forces with the best pass rusher in the NFL, Donald might actually dust off his Superman cape for a triumphant return.
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Donald made his curiosity known in a pair of texts to ESPN’s Pat McAfee and NFL insider Jordan Schultz soon after the Rams traded for Garrett, telling McAfee that Garrett’s arrival in Los Angeles has “for sure got me thinking” and Schultz, “I’m for sure flirting with the idea. Helluva opportunity with the Super Bowl in SoFi this year. If I can find the fire, it’s a possibility.”
That sounds more like someone getting ready to dive back in, headfirst, rather than carefully putting his toe back in the water to test the temperature.
And, of course, the Rams would welcome him with open arms.
So, is it real or not?
The sense within league circles is that this could actually happen.
And what we do know is that in the weeks since Donald broached the possibility, he and McVay have remained in communication. The two have shared a close bond even during Donald’s retirement.
“Here’s what I would tell you guys overall, too, is Aaron’s a guy that I stay really close in touch with, and I know the respect he has for Myles,” McVay said. “Talked to him about the opportunity to be able to bring him on board.”
Now it’s time to close the deal.
The question Donald is grappling with is rekindling the infamous fire that burns inside him and made him one of the best defensive linemen in NFL history.
Unwilling to settle for anything less than the best version of himself, Donald was one-of-one with his maniacal, year-round work ethic. It bordered on deranged, but it was based on the immense pride he took in being the best.
Knowing the psychotic level of commitment and work ethic he demanded from himself, does Donald even want to go there again?
The right play for the Rams is to continue giving Donald his space while he makes that determination. This includes some gentle coaxing from McVay, of course, reminding Donald how much he still means to the organization and the pivotal role he could play in adding another Lombardi Trophy to the building.
Part of this involves convincing someone who has self-imposed the highest of standards that he can still be a huge asset and help the cause, even if he doesn’t reclaim the 32-year-old version of himself.
Knowing his level of pride, if Donald can somehow reignite the fire, he will work himself into a position to be a force on the Rams’ defensive line.
His role might change. But his impact will be felt.
The Rams toe a fine line trying to persuade him without pushing him. With roughly a month left before training camp opens, they have time to strike the necessary chord and bring Donald back into the fold.
It’s time to seal the deal.