SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – SEPTEMBER 10: Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on September 10, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
A blockbuster trade proposal idea has the Los Angeles Rams sending franchise superstar Aaron Donald to an up-and-coming AFC team.
Donald is under contract for 2024, with his deal carrying void years in 2025 and 2026. As we saw with the Jalen Ramsey trade to Miami last year, Rams GM Les Snead isn’t afraid to deal a core player in his prime if he gets a significant offer for his liking.
Bleacher Report writers pieced together a lucrative trade idea that has the Rams dealing the three-time Defensive Player of the Year to the Houston Texans in exchange for the No. 23 and No. 86 picks plus a 2025 fourth-round pick:
“The Rams shocked everyone by getting into the playoffs this season, but this still isn’t a contender. Getting another first-round pick and a few others would help them continue to build through the draft.
The real fun begins when we think about what Aaron Donald could do to take this Texans defense to the next level. Assuming they can re-sign Jonathan Greenard, they would then be getting after quarterbacks with Greenard (12.5 sacks this season), an emerging Will Anderson Jr. and the best pass-rushing defensive tackle of all-time. Combine that with C.J. Stroud’s offense, and the Texans are a real Super Bowl contender.”
On paper, that’s a lot to give up for a soon-to-be 33-year-old star who may retire in the not-do-distant future. But if the Texans could get assurance that Donald would sign an extension, a trade like this would be worthwhile.
Donald is a generational defensive player who single-handedly takes over games like few other players. Even with 10 NFL seasons under his belt, Donald remains one of football’s elite-tier players.
The Texans won the AFC South with a 10-7 record and went all the way to the Divisional Round, falling to Lamar Jackson and the top-seeded Baltimore Ravens. Adding a future Hall of Famer and 10-time Pro Bowler like Donald could be the final piece needed to help the Texans take that next step into becoming a title contender.
