Aaron Donald Comments on Rumors of Rams Contract, Retirement After Super Bowl Win

The veteran defensive tackle told the I Am Athlete show on Monday that he will be at peace if Donald can't agree to terms on a contract with a team he believes can contend for a Super Bowl title.

"For me, it's about winning. I don't want to play football if I can't win anyway, so I feel like if I got a real opportunity to win another Super Bowl, then it makes sense to play. But again, it's still a business, and we got to handle the business side of things, and if that wasn't to get handled then, you know, it is what it is type of situation.

"I'll be fine regardless, but me talking about retirement, that was happening way before we won a Super Bowl. I've been saying that since I got into the league I was going to play eight years and be done. That's just what I've been saying. ... If I was to play, it's just to win another Super Bowl, but at the end of the day, it's still a business and it got to make sense to me and my family.

"... I don't need to play football to be fine. ... I was blessed to play this game, to make the money I made, the accomplishments I made in eight years is, like, I'm complete. If I can win another one, that's great. But if not, I'm at peace."

Donald's comments come after Jeremy Fowler reported earlier this month that the eight-time Pro Bowler was working with the Rams on a record-breaking deal.

Donald will be well above the market average for defensive players when this is done. He has been the best player for at least a half-decade.

Fowler said that Donald has a number he will play for and if it isn't met, he'd consider retirement. Donald said during his appearance on the I Am Athlete that it was not about the money.

Donald's salary will drop to $23.5 million in 2023 and then to $23.5 million in 2024 as his contract with the Rams ends.

T.J. Watt is the highest-paid defensive player in the National Football League. The second-highest paid defensive player is Joey Bosa.

Donald has the potential to be the most dominant player in NFL history, so he deserves to be paid a lot.

Donald has spent his entire eight-year career with the Rams, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, seven first-team All-Pro nods and three Defensive Player of the Year awards.

The most consistent defensive player in the league since being drafted 13th overall has been the 31-year-old, and he showed no signs of slowing down last season.

Donald made 84 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and 25 quarterback hits in 17 regular-season games. He had 3.5 sacks, 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits in the playoffs, and he won the Super Bowl.

If Donald retires or fails to re-sign with L.A., the Rams defense shouldn't be nearly as effective. The franchise is looking for another Super Bowl run and locking up Donald makes sense.