If we had to trade AD in the off- season for draft picks.........

[Loyal]

Different positions, but Eagles fans regret losing Reggie White to the Packers I am sure. I'd feel the same about Donald.

Getting Picks is like getting raffle tickets for prizes (which includes ones that you may not want), and you have to give up a previous years Grand Prize that you love to pay for it. I still remember that Redskins game where Fisher marched out all of the Draft Picks garnered from the RG3 trade at the coin flip....Who's left from that basket of picks? Not many.....Brockers and Ogletree

 

[nanotech]

No thanks.

 

[Turducken]

Our 6-2 record gives us the luxury of entertaining this idea. If AD was still holding out we would likely be 4-4 or 3-5 (I think we would have lost to 49ers, cowboys and maybe jags without AD). Having him on the DL allows us to plug late draft round min wage players (Fox, Walker, Ebukam, Smart, Longacre) into the DL for productive minutes. Without him, we're averge defense at best. Keeping him should be a priority if we can afford it. I can't think of a single defensive player in the league that I'd value higher than him. If I'm reading body language correctly, Donald is having a blast this season. Hopefully he'll be willing to sign a 5 year extension for Suh-ish money this offseason. What is his trade value to other teams if he is demanding a $150million contract to suit up? I doubt it is multiple 1st's. We may have to call his bluff (again) and franchise him (repeatedly).

 

[Ram65]

This defense is already in need of a legit, elite 2nd pass rusher. Quinn hasn't been the guy. The edge guys aren't there either.
Can't trade Donald and expect the pass rush to improve.

I'm with you. Donald has been the main pass rush force for the Rams. Quinn just hasn't come through as that 2nd elite pass rusher he once was. I wasn't too hot on the hold out and speculated contract. He has proven to be the key to the defense that still needs improvement. I don't see a team making franchise first round QB type trade for a DT that will command at least 100M for 5 years. Could they get two 1st round picks and 2nd round pick?

 

[Rmfnlt]

You must define a small core of key players and hold onto them while their talent and salaries are manageable. When either talent or salary expectations become too unmanageable, relinquish those players and replace them with new core players. The other players form a support group that would be more fluid than the defined core group.

Answered:

A Hall of Fame Player like AD has to be part of the "core" in your scenario. His impact expands FAR wider than his stats. He makes everyone better on the Dline and the backfield.

it may seem like a hard, businesslike way to look at the sports team, especially since most fans tend to fall in love with certain players even when their skill sets have declined considerably.

And I agree... when their skill sets have declined. Of course, that's not at all the case with Donald.

It's about the economics... how much he asks... how much the Rams are willing to pay. One player can hamstring a franchise, if the franchise allows them to.

Is he so valuable that the Rams would do such a thing? I hope not.

I do think he's really enjoying this year and the new culture. How that plays into his demands is uncertain.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Why would we trade a guy like Donald now who is under contract thru the end of 2018, then can be franchise tagged for what will likely be less money than what any new contract would call for ? We should keep him for a couple more years, win a Super Bowl, then later determine whether we want to trade him for a king's ransom.

2017 Franchise Tag values :

Defensive end: $16.934m
Defensive tackle: $13.387m

In 2015 Ndamukong Suh signed a 6 year, $114,375,000 contract with the Miami Dolphins, including a $25,500,000 signing bonus, $59,955,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $19,062,500. Donald expects to surpass Suh's contract in every way.

• An "exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of a date in April of the current year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams. The player's team has all the negotiating rights to the exclusive player.
• A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five cap hits at the player's position for the previous five years applied to the current salary cap, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if the player signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

At worst, Donald's trade value as a 'franchised' player would = 2 first round draft picks, ... at best, could he command as much compensation as say ... RG3 ? Who knows what some crazy GM might be willing to offer ?

jmo.

 

[Rocko]

After reading everyone's comments, and looking at the situation from other people's perspectives, including mine, I feel the only field position that deserves $20 million a year/$100 million dollar contract, is the most important position on the field, and in my opinion, that is the quarterback. I would rather see a balanced team at each position being coached up, and a great quarterback running the team for years. History has proved through the years that this is the most successful formula to continued success. I mean, come on, you just have to look at Tom Brady and the Patriots of the last 20 years to see that if the wheel ain't broke - don't fix it. Aaron Donald is an amazing player, but I do not want to see our front office paying him $20 million a year. Have him ride out his original 5 year contract, or settle on say $15 million a year max, but if he does not want to sign a team friendly contract and decides to sit out again, trade him to the highest bidder. It would be nice to know which direction this is going before the 2018 draft, so the team could draft accordingly.

 

[tempests]

Stop worrying so much about what Donald is making. Demoff might have to get creative, but that's his job, yeah?

The Eagles are paying their DT a hell of a lot more money than their QB, they're 8-1. You trust this coach or this front office so much, trust their ability to make it work.

 

[BriansRams]

It's a good question @Rocko There's no reason anyone should get angry with you for asking such a question. And NO ONE should call you stupid. You asked for opinions so here goes.

I also think that sinking $14,000,000 per year into Donald with a gazillion up front would heavily affect our ability to keep other great players, and sign new ones. I can understand the money for a top 10 QB ... but I just can't ok it for a defensive line player, even though he is completely utterly awesome.

I'd start the bidding at trading for a young, but already very good O-lineman or a stud Cornerback ... AND 1st and 2nd round pick in 2018 ... AND ... a 2nd rounder in 2019. I'd personally be ok with that. The money saved would go very far and making our team even more dominant.

 

[Akrasian]

AD is almost certainly the best defensive player in the league. He shouldn't be traded lightly. But in a league with a salary cap, that uses 22 starters plus a large number of role players, if AD insists on paying a sum so large that the Rams have trouble maintaining quality elsewhere, it could make sense to move him, especially if another team offers enough in trade.

I suspect that the Rams and he will end up striking a fair deal. But if he wants to be the highest paid player in the league (not just the highest defensive player) AND wants an out clause after just a couple of years - well, if another team is willing to do so AND give the Rams value back, so be it.

I'm sure McVay would rather he stay. But I'm also sure that McVay would love to have a ton of picks spread out to allow the team to be built fully in line with his vision.

 

[Dodgersrf]

 

[jrry32]

If we had done that, we'd be sitting here lamenting trading a Hall of Fame caliber player for draft picks. They're lottery tickets, and the jackpot is a player like Aaron Donald.

 

[BriansRams]

Is that GIF for when Donald demands to be the highest paid player in the NFL?

 

[jap]

I'm OK with that..




A Hall of Fame Player like AD has to be part of the "core" in your scenario. His impact expands FAR wider than his stats. He makes everyone better on the Dline and the backfield.



ummm, no.

For whatever reason, you chose to single out my earlier statement:

"it may seem like a hard, businesslike way to look at the sports team, especially since most fans tend to fall in love with certain players even when their skill sets have declined considerably. However, for ongoing success, it may be the only way for the Land of LaLa to emerge as the new modern day Title Town, USA."

and react as though I was applying that to Aaron. I was here when Aaron was drafted and I know he is on the top of his game right now, with possible future improvements under the SonOfBum. A declining skill set is definitely not my concern with Aaron at this time. There are other players with declining skills sets who are well compensated now and may have to be eventually dropped for salary cap considerations.

It is his salary negotiations that is the crazy thing here. I have no problem with him whatsoever being the highest paid defensive player, and it would seem the Horns feel that Aaron deserves a generous compensation with respect to his overall impact on games and the team at large. However, there was a heavily reported "rumor" that his agent is talking about moderate to medium long contract, say 3-4 years, followed by another renegotiation, with another possible holdout, for another super megabuck contract. It was categorized as a rumor at one point, but clearly something disrupted what seemed to begin as friendly negotiations and led to a standoff between both parties until the regular season began and Aaron decided to play. It is that possible team killing double mega deal strategy which is my concern with Aaron. Is his agent working for Aaron's best interests or mostly his own?

I don't want to go to deeply into this since the exact details were not made privy to the general public. However, you cannot have a single player handcuffing an entire team when championship hopes are at stake.

I would love! to see Aaron work something out that would be satisfactory to all concerned, especially since he can easily appreciate the fact that this coaching regime is dead serious about building a winning franchise . . .with Aaron as one of the superstar elements. He is in the Land of LaLa, a city that loves superstars so much that endorsement deals can be extremely lucrative, in addition to whatever perks the team itself provides.

As much as I love his production, however, at some point a hard line must be taken if a single salary situation becomes prohibitive toward obtaining needed talent elsewhere on the team. Teams win championships, not individual players.

 

[PressureD41]

.....what could we expect to receive. I know this is an unpopular discussion during the season as AD has been a beast since he re-joined the team, and has made life better for the players around him, but I'm having a difficult time with offering him a mega deal contract that eats up a large part of our salary cap for just one player. I really believe in McVay and the coaching staff to build a "team" rather than center around 1 individual player on defense. Plus with him holding out all pre-season and missing the first game of the season, it has left a sour taste in my mouth, and whose to say he is not going to do the same thing this upcoming off season. I really believe we could have an incredible defense without him, save a boatload of money to be spread around many other players, and walk away in a trade with a first and second round pick at least. As someone said in another thread, Cleveland has the money to sign AD to a long term contract, and the draft picks to make the deal. And they sure as heck could use AD to be the point of there defense. What do you think.

WTF, AD99 isn't going anywhere. Dude hes a GOAT. enough w/ the loser thought process of trading GOATs... Im sick to my stomach w/ this. Respectfully disagree w/ this threat.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

@BonifayRam how do you know Donald is "very unhappy"? He looks pretty happy on the field. Or did you make that up to reinforce your opinion that he needs to be traded?

Jrry is right. Teams get picks in the hopes of landing an Aaron Donald level player. But having picks is no guarantee of getting another.


I think trading a talent like Donald would be foolish, I know Phillips money spots are OLB and Corners, but Donald has more impact than any DE right now. So Wade moves his money from OLB to DT for one player. Then signs guys like Dumervil, or Barwin to fill in for a few years, or they get lucky and draft a decent OLB. Phillips knows the value of a great pass rusher. I think we can throw out the Denver template for now. They signed Ogletree to a new deal and MLB is not a position that Wade hung onto when free agency came around.

Goff is cheap right now. Give Donald his QB contract and front load it, so it doesn't hurt so much later. Then reassess Donald's value in five years.

 

[Corbin]

There is my answer.
And ps there is absolutely no fucking way AD is going anywhere short of him going on a 5 bank robbery spree in downtown LA like in HEAT. He's going to be a Ram for life, or at least maybe until a year or two before he decides to hang it up.

This is part of how you build a dynasty. You don't overall players sure, but we are literally dealing with a DT on being one if not THE GOAT at hi position. Pay his ass. Especially if we paying Tru 16 mill. Let's go find some f'n corners in the draft!
There has to be a few decent ones at pick 32 in the 1st round next year...

 

[dieterbrock]

"Because the 6-2 start has been fun, but I miss the old 1-7, 2-6 days"
Is the only reason you trade Donald

 

[BonifayRam]

@BonifayRam how do you know Donald is "very unhappy"? He looks pretty happy on the field. Or did you make that up to reinforce your opinion that he needs to be traded?

Jrry is right. Teams get picks in the hopes of landing an Aaron Donald level player. But having picks is no guarantee of getting another.


I think trading a talent like Donald would be foolish, I know Phillips money spots are OLB and Corners, but Donald has more impact than any DE right now. So Wade moves his money from OLB to DT for one player. Then signs guys like Dumervil, or Barwin to fill in for a few years, or they get lucky and draft a decent OLB. Phillips knows the value of a great pass rusher. I think we can throw out the Denver template for now. They signed Ogletree to a new deal and MLB is not a position that Wade hung onto when free agency came around.

Goff is cheap right now. Give Donald his QB contract and front load it, so it doesn't hurt so much later. Then reassess Donald's value in five years.

How do you know he isn't? Time will give us the answer here on this matter of being unhappy or being happy. So most opinions are he is happy here in LA. IMO AD would prefer to play & live back in the Northeast.

Its also my opinion that the future AD contract is questionable while the majority of this forum says different & it will happen. Once again this element is still unresolved in spite of all the claims that AD will sign a new Ram contract. Since that's how I believe it would make me way out of the main highway of thoughts on the Rams trading AD.....Its right there as questionable & like the other two above elements this remains to be seen far from being conclusive..

Now I do not need to reinforce my opinion of the need to trade him. I do not have that simple opinion. Fact is I want AD to remain a Ram for another decade IF possible. However that's up to AD & the Rams as we know. How do we know we will not get another player close to a AD in the near future draft ..you or no one else knows that most just assume it will not occur.

We have no ideal what AD is demanding... do we? So Its does seem that most could careless what AD was demanding earlier this season while he still has 2 seasons to play under the original contract that is unsettling to me.

That fact alone would tell me all this AD loving/worshiping posts "Pay The Man" demands without having the full information on AD demands are Foolish of course IMO.... that's coming from a well aged small working brain that I have.

Now while most here continue to turn to the many hundreds of pages in the Aaron Donald Hymnal of Praise & start to sing...I am not there yet till I know what AD is demanding & the cost AD will inflict upon my Rams team future. Thus I have no issues with discussing any possible trade scenarios in the future.:cheers: