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 Yr and eight-time first-team All-Professional, is retiring. Donald, who turns 33 in Might, was rumored to be contemplating retirement prior to now couple of offseasons, however it is a participant going out whereas nonetheless on the prime of the league at his place.

Donald will probably 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 believe the reply is sure. The one argument is whether or not you like the longevity of somebody corresponding to Corridor of Famer Alan Web page, who performed within the league for 15 seasons for the Vikings and Bears as a substitute of 10 like Donald.

Doing historic comparisons for Donald may be tough as a result of so most of the different nice inside defensive linemen performed earlier than the period of superior stats. There are not any strain 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 Yr 3 times: J.J. Watt and Lawrence Taylor. Solely two different defensive linemen ever made the Related Press All-Professional workforce eight instances: 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 at the least 10 seasons within the NFL and made the Professional Bowl in every one.

Donald’s 20.5 sacks in 2018 are probably the most for a participant primarily at defensive deal with since 1982 when particular person sack counts formally started. Donald’s profession complete 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 complete of 153 AV is tied for third amongst gamers listed as defensive tackles, behind Web page and Merlin Olsen. However keep in mind, Donald performed 10 seasons, whereas Web page and Olsen each performed 15. His common of 15.3 AV per yr 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 corresponding to 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 in 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% go rush win price final season and added one other eight sacks to his profession complete. Donald would’ve seemingly 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.