After losing to the Lions, the Rams were aware that Aaron Donald would retire.

Aaron Donald, the defensive tackle and three-time defensive player of the year for the Los Angeles Rams, said on Friday that he was hanging up his cleats and calling it quits. Donald announced his retirement on social media with just a statement.

The Rams may have known that Donald would retire since the end of the season, even though he made his official announcement on Friday. The MMQB’s Albert Breer detailed in his weekly column,

“On the evening of January 14, Aaron Donald realized his career was finished. When the all-time world runner entered Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay’s office the following day when the squad was trembling, McVay received that message loud and clear.

after losing to Detroit in the playoffs the previous evening. Donald told McVay, simply, “I’m full.” “I simply feel that you ought to be. During a phone conversation on Sunday afternoon, McVay stated, “You have every right to feel that way.” He was stuffed. And did you feel that, man? You’re ecstatic because he also deserves it.The coach remarked that he truly felt this might happen the entire year. Donald might pause a game, spend a few more minutes with a younger player following practice, or just spend time laughing with a friend. This year, he even went a step further with his Christmas presents, which McVay said were all indicators of the veteran’s mental state. And perhaps in his manner

of leaving his playing companions a little something more behind.

It seems strange that neither the Rams nor Donald have made any announcements until the end of the first week of free agency, considering how long it appears they have known he was going to retire. The first week of March saw the announcement of Jason Kelce’s retirement, which came this offseason as well.

It also calls into question several of the Rams’ free agency decisions in the situation that they have known about since their playoff loss to the Detroit Lions. The Rams used their first three free agency signings to get Jonah Jackson, Colby Parkinson, and Darious Williams rather than a top edge rusher or defensive lineman like Christian Wilkins.

agency.

The Rams might wait until the draft to address both of these spots, that much is certain. But the Rams pass rush as a whole and the defensive line both clearly suffer without Donald.

The Rams will not be replacing Aaron Donald this offseason, as we have already stated. The coaching staff will be responsible for developing some of the younger players on the roster through pressure tactics. Even still, considering that they have known about Donald’s retirement since January, it seems strange that they haven’t been able to sign a player with experience.