Aaron Donald’s future is still hanging over Rams camp, and the ripple effects are showing up everywhere.
Los Angeles would gladly welcome Donald back, but the key word right now is “would.” No official decision has been made, and the team still doesn’t know when that answer is coming.
That uncertainty has become more than a talking point. It’s shaping what the Rams can and can’t do while they wait.
Head coach Sean McVay has made it clear the Rams aren’t going to rush him.
“I would love to be able to have all this stuff figured out, but like I told you guys from the beginning, he's earned the right,” said McVay on Thursday. “I know he's feeling good and I think he will continue to work out. I'm hopeful that we'll have some answers on that sooner than later.”
That patience comes with a price. The Rams are trying to manage a roster that could be affected by possible suspensions for wide receiver Puka Nacua and offensive tackle Alaric Jackson.
If either player is unavailable, and especially if Jackson is suspended, Los Angeles may need the flexibility to add someone quickly. Until Donald makes his call, that flexibility is harder to find.
Money is part of the equation, too. If Donald returns, the Rams would owe him $30 million.
That’s not a clean fit against a cap situation that currently leaves them with $15 million in space. There are ways to create more room, though.
Restructuring Davante Adams’ deal could free up about $11 million, and reworking Kyren Williams’ contract could open another $6.5 million. Together, that would put the Rams around $30 million, enough to bring Donald back and still leave some breathing room.
What they probably can’t do is chase Donald and another major addition at the same time. A player like Taylor Decker would come with starting left tackle money, at minimum $15 million and likely more.
The Rams would prefer Donald over Decker, but waiting on Donald could mean losing out on other options. Recent injuries to Laremy Tunsil make that risk more real, and the same issue has already shown up at receiver.
Even though the Rams could use an experienced third wideout because of Nacua’s situation, they missed on Stephon Diggs and Keenan Allen.
That’s where the handcuff comes in. The Rams know what they want, but they can’t fully act until Donald decides. Once that happens, and once the contract structure is sorted out, they’ll know what kind of room they have left to make other moves.
McVay has said Donald has earned the right to work through this at his own pace, and the Rams aren’t setting a deadline. If he wants to come back, they’ll take him - whether that’s before Week 1 or even in Week 15 for a playoff push.
They’d also like to get him on the practice field sooner rather than later so defensive coordinator Chris Shula can start seeing how he fits in. But the Rams aren’t going to force that issue either. As far as the defense goes, figuring out how to use Donald isn’t complicated.
For now, though, the larger problem remains the same: the Rams are waiting on one of the biggest decisions of camp, and that wait is limiting what they can do everywhere else.
In Other News...
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Sean McVay said the split was about evaluation, not a finished decision, and he was careful not to hand Bennett the backup job just yet. For a Rams team trying to sort out quarterback depth before the regular season, the battle behind Matthew Stafford still has some runway left, and Bennett will have to keep answering every chance he gets. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Backup QB Battle Suddenly Feels Far Less Settled
What looked like a straightforward backup quarterback job in Rams camp has turned into something a little more interesting. Stetson Bennett entered training camp and the preseason as the clear No. 2 behind Matthew Stafford, but rookie Ty Simpson has kept making enough noise to force a longer look, especially after his strong showing against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Sean McVay has said the recent split in practice reps is tied to there simply being fewer snaps available, but the timing still matters. A competition that once seemed settled now feels more open, and for a team that values order at quarterback, even a modest change in the rotation can say plenty about where the conversation is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Offense May Lean On One Risky Bet Early
Training camp is wrapped, and the Rams head into the regular season with plenty to feel good about on offense. Davante Adams gives them another proven target, Kyren Williams remains a central part of the attack and the group still has the look of a unit built to stress defenses in a hurry.
Puka Nacuas situation is the part that could complicate the early weeks. He is dealing with groin soreness and is also facing possible NFL discipline, even though no suspension has been finalized, which puts extra attention on the Rams receiver and running back depth. If Nacua is slowed or unavailable, the team may have to lean on less tested options to keep the explosive plays coming. [Read more 🡒]