Having one of the best players in the NFL heap praise on you is great. Having him talk you up and vouch for you before hitting free agency is even better.
That’s exactly what Aaron Donald is doing for his teammates who are set to become free agents in March. Having played at least the last year and a half with Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers and Dante Fowler Jr., Donald is familiar with their games.
The Rams certainly won’t be able to keep all three, which will leave at least one gaping hole on the defense’s front seven. Donald would love to see them all return to Los Angeles, saying they’re players that the defense needs.
“I’m gonna try to keep my eye open and do my part if they ask me some questions, hopefully I can help with that. But these are guys that we need back that I feel can help this team to win,” he said last week. “They’re guys that have been productive on this team, helping us get into position to win. Hopefully these guys will be back on our team because I love playing with them. I think they push me, help me to be a better football player and I feel like they’re guys that we need.”
Brockers, Littleton and Fowler all had arguably the best seasons of their career. Littleton led the team in tackles (134), Fowler was second in sacks with 11.5 and Brockers recorded the most tackles in his career (63).
Brockers doesn’t typically put up big numbers, but Donald recognized him as one of the best run stoppers in the league.
“I think he’s one of the best run stoppers in the National Football League,” Donald said. “He’s been that way since I’ve been in the league watching him and playing with him. He don’t got the sack numbers but as far as production when it comes to stopping the run and doing his job, he’s been great at it. He’s one of the main reasons we’re able to do what we can in the run game and do a lot of things just with moving him and putting him in positions to help us.”
Littleton was snubbed for the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams, but he’s emerged as a top linebacker in the NFL. He’s the only player who had at least 130 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions this season and just the second player since 2016 with those numbers.
Donald said he’s “just a playmaker,” always finding himself near the ball and creating big plays.
“Making a lot of plays, always around the ball, trying to find ways to have the ball in his hands – if it’s just strips to interceptions, and he’s even getting his sack numbers up. So he’s just a guy that’s non-stop around the ball,” he said.
Littleton and Fowler will be especially difficult to replace, which likely makes them the top priorities in free agency. Whether the Rams keep the inside linebacker or the pass rusher will be a huge decision, one that will have a significant impact on the defense.
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