The quiet period in the NFL just got blasted wide open because future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald is talking about a comeback, and if you're not a Rams fan, you should be freaking out. This whole speculation started sparking after June 1, when the Los Angeles Rams went out and traded for Myles Garrett, which, let's be real, was already a head-scratcher for the rest of the league. Donald himself admitted to Pat McAfee of ESPN, "It for sure got me thinking," after that Garrett trade. Yikes.
He's Been Working Out, But Is He Really Back?
Hold up, though. We can't just crown the Rams yet. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler dropped a report on Sunday that's got everyone buzzing, saying Donald has been spotted working out at the Rams' facility. But don't go printing those "Donald's Back" jerseys just yet. Fowler made it clear on SportsCenter, saying, "He's been at the facility off and on really for the last few years working out, I can confirm that. I'm told he has not made a firm decision on whether to play and come out of retirement. It does seem like the Rams are at least leaning into that possibility, and the player is too." So, the guy is 35 years old and hasn't played in over two full years. But we're talking about Aaron Donald here, one of the most impactful defenders in the modern NFL era. Even a part-time Donald is a full-time nightmare.The Rams Are Already Stacked, This Is Just Mean
Let's talk about the Rams for a second, because this is where it gets absolutely ridiculous. FanDuel Sportsbook already has them as the top Super Bowl favorites at +500. For context, our Seattle Seahawks are sitting at +1200. The Rams are already loaded, bringing back the core of an offense that ranked first overall and first in scoring last season, led by reigning MVP quarterback Matthew Stafford. GM Les Snead has been aggressive, rebuilding a defense that was 17th overall last year. They traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie and then snagged his Kansas City Chiefs running mate, Jaylen Watson, in free agency. That should fix a secondary that was 19th in yards allowed. Then came the coup de grace: trading Jared Verse for Myles Garrett, who is the Defensive Player of the Year favorite. Garrett, who once got 23 sacks with a Cleveland Browns team that rarely had a lead, could put up truly gaudy numbers in Chris Shula's new defense. Adding Donald? That's just a cherry on top of a hot-fudge sundae, making the whole defense, and Garrett, even better. Imagine trying to consistently double-team both Garrett and Donald? Good luck with that, folks. And don't forget Byron Young had 12 sacks in 2025 and Kobie Turner grabbed 7 sacks. The Rams' offense should be elite again, and their defense should be way better than last year. Now, if Donald truly does come back, even as a rotational interior pass-rusher, he generated 8 sacks and 31 QB pressures in 2023. This is pure insanity. We're still waiting for that firm decision, but the buzz is real, and the potential impact is terrifying for everyone else in the league.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.