UPDATE - Aaron Donald Contract Extension - SIGNED

[El Chapo Jr]

I'm with the pay the man peeps but I certainly understand the concern if he's asking for record breaking money that far surpasses TJ Watt. If you ask me, this is where Stan needs to get creative and offer something under the table to AD to keep those numbers from getting too out of whack in concerns to the salary cap.

 

[Liberator]

The cap is going to sky rocket soon I'm not worried about overpaying him tbh. He is so much better than TJ Watt it's almost an insulting comparison to make lol.

 

[PhillyRam]

I mentioned the same thing as @PhillyRam as well and Ramsey was my example too.
I say pay the man too but as fans we do need to be aware of the reprocussions. So some people pointing those out aren't wrong and those of us that want him to get paid aren't wrong either because that window does pretty much shut should he retire.

Everyone on either side of the fence makes valid points though because they kind of all intertwine the decision not how much and how often he gets to do it could eventually make some of the personalities that our culture has kept in check step out and speak up.
This is such a fine line not everyone is Coop or Stafford. AD deserves his money but we all need to be aware that it could have a ripple effect throughout the team/team culture maybe not immediately but for sure at some point down the line.

And those saying pay him whatever he wants will be the first to bitch that they are not doing anything in FA next yr and are surprised they couldn't keep their young FAs coming off their first contracts.

Would love to see AD retire a Ram, but that is as much up to him, if not more, than it is for the Rams.

AD was huge in the SB, but they don't win that game without Kupp, Stafford, Miller, and even the combo of Gaines & Robinson. It's still, and always has been, a team game. One guy will not decide a team's success all by himself.

 

[nighttrain]

I don't like any of the alternatives, but gonna have to move on someday, might as well get something for AD now while Rams have McVay.
what about two 1's and two 2's from Pittsburg?

I'd do it..
train

 

[El Chapo Jr]

And those saying pay him whatever he wants will be the first to bitch that they are not doing anything in FA next yr and are surprised they couldn't keep their young FAs coming off their first contracts.

Would love to see AD retire a Ram, but that is as much up to him, if not more, than it is for the Rams.

AD was huge in the SB, but they don't win that game without Kupp, Stafford, Miller, and even the combo of Gaines & Robinson. It's still, and always has been, a team game. One guy will not decide a team's success all by himself.

Fans will bitch anyways, it's our inherent nature. I'm ok as long as the bitching has some logic behind it. Best example I can give is Gurley. I was all for him getting paid but I definitely bitched about it after the fact because he wasn't able to live up to the contract cuz his knees were jacked.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I don't like any of the alternatives, but gonna have to move on someday, might as well get something for AD now while Rams have McVay.
what about two 1's and two 2's from Pittsburg?

I'd do it..
train

Hell no! Minimum of 4 1sts and 4 2nds, and 3 3rds.....this is a generational player so if we did trade him, it needs to be past a kings ransom to me. This will be ammo used to trade for better players lol

 

[OntarioRam]

I can't stand players demanding new contracts with multiple years left on their current deal. It effectively makes the contract worthless. He was the highest paid defender at the time he signed. Of course that would change with time. It's the nature of the game and contract inflation. If he wasn't comfortable with that outcome he should have signed for lesser term, or demanded a higher number in the first place.

When a player severely under performs relative to his contract and still has 3+ years left on it, would he give money back? Fat chance. I can only imagine the reaction if the team asked to re-work things to pay a player less.

 

[PhillyRam]

Fans will bitch anyways, it's our inherent nature. I'm ok as long as the bitching has some logic behind it. Best example I can give is Gurley. I was all for him getting paid but I definitely bitched about it after the fact because he wasn't able to live up to the contract cuz his knees were jacked.

And as great as AD is, we are talking about a huge reworked deal for a 31 yr old...and he is not a QB.

This is really reminding me of the 2000 offseason. Rams win the SB, they give Warner & Bruce new contracts, and Kevin Carter & Todd Lyght start bitching about their contracts and mentally don't show up the next yr.

All of that is part of the SB hangover. And if AD gets a huge new deal, the line will form at Demoff's office with others who feel their client's existing contract is not good enough as well.

 

[nighttrain]

Hell no! Minimum of 4 1sts and 4 2nds, and 3 3rds.....this is a generational player so if we did trade him, it needs to be past a kings ransom to me. This will be ammo used to trade for better players lol

like your idea, somewhere between the two of us probably. But in order to keep from gutting the roster AD has to go. Just the truth
train

 

[El Chapo Jr]

And as great as AD is, we are talking about a huge reworked deal for a 31 yr old...and he is not a QB.

This is really reminding me of the 2000 offseason. Rams win the SB, they give Warner & Bruce new contracts, and Kevin Carter & Todd Lyght start bitching about their contracts and mentally don't show up the next yr.

All of that is part of the SB hangover. And if AD gets a huge new deal, the line will form at Demoff's office with others who feel their client's existing contract is not good enough as well.

I definitely can see that happening. However, they do have an argument in saying well, you're not AD lol. Only player that could legitimately start shit there would be Jalen Ramsey but so far he seems content for now. I just hope we can get him under contract where it works but I certainly understand the logic to trade him if he asks for way more than what is reasonable. The Rams still need to be able to field a team and not be crippled but an astronomical contract.

 

[CGI_Ram]

When a player severely under performs relative to his contract and still has 3+ years left on it, would he give money back?

Exactly. If he misses any games on a new deal, or sees his performance decline, is he willing to negotiate down the next year?

 

[El Chapo Jr]

like your idea, somewhere between the two of us probably. But in order to keep from gutting the roster AD has to go. Just the truth
train

I wouldn't go that far yet as it's possible that no other team, including the Rams, wants to set the precedent of paying a defensive player so much that it's closed the gap a lot between a DT and a QB. I don't think AD has all the leverage and I'd actually play hardball with him if he wanted to BS us with his contract demands. In order to grow his brand (kinda sickens me to say it) with his new partnership Donda Sports, he needs to be on the field. It would kill AD to not be on the field. I mean, why else post all these damn workout vids if he is ok with retiring? He's using any leverage he has to get paid top dollar. Rams need to call him out on it (behind closed doors as respectfully and professionally as possible).

 

[Loyal]

And those saying pay him whatever he wants will be the first to bitch that they are not doing anything in FA next yr and are surprised they couldn't keep their young FAs coming off their first contracts.

Would love to see AD retire a Ram, but that is as much up to him, if not more, than it is for the Rams.

AD was huge in the SB, but they don't win that game without Kupp, Stafford, Miller, and even the combo of Gaines & Robinson. It's still, and always has been, a team game. One guy will not decide a team's success all by himself.

Don't kid yourself, AD was as responsible for that Super Bowl win as anybody. If the Bengals get that 1st down, it's almost certain the Bengals kick a FG with their great kicker in the last series of the game, let alone all of the other plays that AD made. His play was so significant that no one would have been surprised if he was Super Bowl MVP.

What happens if AD doesn't like a supposed trade partner and just retires? We get nothing but a massive hole on the Dline.

Bank it that we are done as a Super Bowl contender for the forseeable future, the minute he walks out the door. I kind of like having real dreams and expectations with this team, instead of dreaming over the draft, but that's just me.

 

[Allen2McVay]

It would be a little too time consuming to engage half-a-dozen posters on this topic but I think the idea of trading Aaron Donald at this time, is a REALLY bad idea.

I don’t think it’s particularly realistic, especially for the suggested return in some posts.

Don’t think it helps the Rams short-term at all; and, with most of their top players in their late-20s, this Team is built to win now. Donald is one of the critical pieces to success in the next two seasons.

That goes to the next point. It’s not necessarily the average-per-year on a new contract that matters most. It’s the cap-hit in the next two years that is most relevant.

Furthermore, nothing up to this point in the negotiations should (in my opinion) be a surprise to anyone. Nothing has been said by the Rams, or reported by the most reliable Rams sources to indicate frustration or disappointment, by the Team, in negotiations.

Just the opposite. Based on Donald’s previous contract negotiations, and comments from Tony Pastoors a couple months ago, this timing seemed expected.

Realize this may be a minority opinion at this time; and I do believe anything is possible. Just felt like giving another perspective.

 

[Curt760]

I say Stan offer part ownership of the franchise. Lets say whatever is equivalent to $100mil (current value) then pay cash for the rest. This way his share will (should) continue to go up then AD won't have to worry about who is now making more money. I'm thinking AD got 4 years left in the tank. Just a thought.

 

[Turducken]

AD has a contract, with 3 years left on it. He held out one game to get it, Now he's doing it again and threatening to retire if he doesn't get "his number".

I think its a chicken shit tactic and who's to say he doesn't do it again next year. I loathe players who do this shit when they are already under contract. Pay him a bonus, OK, but a whole new contract? Contracts are worthless if players force management to come back to the table every year.

In order to meet a substantial raise demand from AD with no extension (or worse the possibility he will retire after next season) you have to decide that our SB window will close when AD leaves because we will have to keep paying him (like dead money) after he is gone.

If the Rams SB window is tied to AD's willingness to play (e.g., until 2023 or 2024) what does that mean for Kupp and Stafford (who probably think their SB window runs until 2026, or longer)?

 

[payote75]

And those saying pay him whatever he wants will be the first to bitch that they are not doing anything in FA next yr and are surprised they couldn't keep their young FAs coming off their first contracts.

Would love to see AD retire a Ram, but that is as much up to him, if not more, than it is for the Rams.

AD was huge in the SB, but they don't win that game without Kupp, Stafford, Miller, and even the combo of Gaines & Robinson. It's still, and always has been, a team game. One guy will not decide a team's success all by himself.

I agree with everything obviously by the thread winner lol my devils advocate though is how he elevates those around him to be better because of the attention he commands and obviously his production.

It's like the angel and the devil on my shoulder. Devil says he is all time favorite give him what he deserves angel echoes same sentiments you just conveyed. I sure hope we find a happy medium man.

 

[RamFanInPC]

I don't like any of the alternatives, but gonna have to move on someday, might as well get something for AD now while Rams have McVay.
what about two 1's and two 2's from Pittsburg?

I'd do it..
train

Or Watt, a 1 and a 2?

 

[Liberator]

And those saying pay him whatever he wants will be the first to bitch that they are not doing anything in FA next yr and are surprised they couldn't keep their young FAs coming off their first contracts.

My guarantee to you right now is that I will not do this lol.

 

[Merlin]

I like this, I also trust the Rams to make the right decision. Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail, but if you love Pittsburgh so much (And I will never understand why) then trade him there and let him deal with Mitch Trubisky and small hands Pickett as the draft compensation plus the cap savings would be prudent IMHO.

If Pittsburgh were to pair him with TJ Watt look out. That would be a return of some blitzburgh lol. You'd better be able to run the ball playing them.

Bank it that we are done as a Super Bowl contender for the forseeable future, the minute he walks out the door. I kind of like having real dreams and expectations with this team, instead of dreaming over the draft, but that's just me.

Sorry dude but this is nonsense. Last 10 Super Bowl winners only one had AD. Les and Sean would re-allocate resources next offseason and we'd be just fine.

What would be closed is defending the title. But in general that's extremely tough to do anyway, so if this ends up being a situation where AD wants a retirement check let someone else give it to him.

And btw if they manage to get him signed I'm fine with it. Just again I don't like the direction this is headed. This feels different than the holdout he had prior in that he's over 30 now where DL tend to degrade, he's got 3 years of mid 20s contract value on the books still, and I suspect he wants QB pay. Oh plus he's using retirement as a negotiating tool here too. Rams might not have a choice here but again if they keep McVay and ensure he has a QB that window will remain open.