Aaron Donald retires: Is the Rams legend the very best DT ever?

Los Angeles Rams defensive deal with Aaron Donald, a three-time NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months and eight-time first-team All-Professional, is retiring. Donald, who turns 33 in Might, was rumored to be contemplating retirement previously couple of offseasons, however it is a participant going out whereas nonetheless on the prime of the league at his place.

Donald can be going into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame with no questions requested, however the higher query upon his retirement could also be whether or not he’s the best defensive deal with who has ever performed within the NFL. I feel the reply is sure. The one argument is whether or not you favor the longevity of somebody resembling Corridor of Famer Alan Web page, who performed within the league for 15 seasons for the Vikings and Bears as an alternative of 10 like Donald.

Doing historic comparisons for Donald may be troublesome as a result of so lots of the different nice inside defensive linemen performed earlier than the period of superior stats. There aren’t any stress counts or Professional Soccer Focus grades for gamers like Warren Sapp and Cortez Kennedy. We do not even have reliable deal with numbers for gamers from earlier than the Nineteen Nineties like Web page and the Cowboys Corridor of Famer Bob Lilly. Nonetheless, primarily based on what we do know, no defensive deal with ever had a 10-year peak like Donald loved with the Rams.

Solely two different gamers have gained Defensive Participant of the 12 months 3 times: J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor. Solely two different defensive linemen ever made the Related Press All-Professional crew eight occasions: Reggie White and Bruce Smith. Different defensive linemen who performed longer made extra Professional Bowls than Donald, however none of them was named to the Professional Bowl in each season he performed. Solely Donald and Barry Sanders performed not less than 10 seasons within the NFL and made the Professional Bowl in each.

Donald’s 20.5 sacks in 2018 are essentially the most for a participant primarily at defensive deal with since 1982 when particular person sack counts formally started. Donald’s profession whole of 111 sacks is second amongst defensive tackles to John Randle’s 137.5 throughout 14 seasons within the NFL.

One good historic gauge of a participant’s worth is the Approximate Worth metric from Professional Soccer Reference. Donald’s whole of 153 AV is tied for third amongst gamers listed as defensive tackles, behind Web page and Merlin Olsen. However bear in mind, Donald performed 10 seasons, whereas Web page and Olsen each performed 15. His common of 15.3 AV per 12 months is well No. 1, with Web page second at 13.1.

This is a have a look at the highest inside defensive linemen primarily based on AV per season. I’ve included gamers resembling Smith and Watt who have been arguably edge rushers however performed defensive finish in a 3-4 alignment, which is what Donald performed for a part of his profession with the Rams. They nonetheless are available behind Donald.

Donald goes out on prime, having been chosen first-team All-Professional but once more in 2023. He as soon as once more led all defensive tackles with a 19.9% move rush win fee final season and added one other eight sacks to his profession whole. Donald would’ve possible had two or three extra nice seasons left in him as he leaves the sport.

Whether or not by statistics or particularly by accolades from those that have been watching him every year, Donald is the very best to ever play his place within the NFL. He’ll be sorely missed, besides by NFL quarterbacks and offensive linemen.