Aaron Donald comeback rumors raise one fascinating question the Rams must answer before 2026
Role of the defensive tackle if he comes back from retirement will be an inevitable topic of conversation after two seasons away from football.
Aaron Donald was spotted working out at the Los Angeles Rams’ practice facility on Friday, and the footage reported by TMZ has sparked legitimate speculation about a return from retirement for the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Donald retired after the 2023 season as one of the most decorated defensive players in NFL history. Now, with the Rams having acquired Myles Garrett in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, the 35-year-old interior defender is reportedly mulling a comeback.
The question Los Angeles must answer is straightforward: what can Aaron Donald actually do at this point after two years away from football?
The Garrett multiplying factor changes the math
The roster addition that could have made Donald unnecessary is exactly what makes his potential return so compelling. When the Rams acquired a player like Garrett, fresh off a 23-sack season, they eliminated the need for Donald to be the dominant force he once was.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that momentum is building for Donald to return. And that’s because the Garrett pairing creates protection math no offense can solve. Even if Donald plays at 60-70% of his peak, lining up alongside Garrett turns him into a luxury piece rather than a linchpin. Offensive coordinators would have to account for both players on every snap, and that’s a problem without a clean answer.
In his final season with the Rams in 2023, Donald was still elite. He generated 84 pressures and recorded eight sacks, a massive number for a defensive tackle. He also posted 31 stops and earned a 91.5 PFF pass-rush grade. In run defense, he graded at 71.3. At that point, he remained one of the premier defensive linemen in the league.
Two years of retirement will erode some of that production. But Donald’s career resume speaks for itself: an eight-time first-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team. The baseline for a player of that caliber, even at 35, remains higher than most active interior defenders.
The Rams have the cap space and the depth to make it work
The Rams have $20.9 million in cap space, leaving more than enough room to bring Donald back on a one-year deal. And Pairing Donald and Garrett on the same defense is a thought that should concern every offensive coordinator in the NFC.
Los Angeles already has a solid interior defensive line with players like Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske. The team also signed Poona Ford this offseason to add more beef upfront. The foundation is stable, which means Donald wouldn’t need to carry the workload he shouldered during his prime years.
That’s the distinction worth making. A designated interior rusher role, one where Donald plays limited snaps in obvious passing situations, maximizes his explosiveness without asking his body to absorb the toll of a full-time role after two years away. The Rams will just need Donald to collapse the pocket on third down while Garrett attacks from the edge.