The Los Angeles Rams traded up to select Braden Fiske in Round 2 this year because he’s a talented defensive tackle who will help fill the massive void left by Aaron Donald when he retired. Fiske isn’t expected to be a one-for-one replacement, but his presence will certainly help lessen the pain of losing the future Hall of Famer.
Though Donald is no longer a part of the team, he’s still helping the franchise he spent 10 years with. More specifically, he’s helping the player who’s attempting to fill his shoes.
Fiske told Forbes in a recent interview that he will work out with Donald in the next few weeks before training camp begins, a move that will definitely help the rookie defensive tackle as he gets acclimated to life in the NFL.
“Not really noteworthy advice,” Fiske said of his conversations with Donald. “We’re just going to get some workouts in during the next couple of weeks before training camp, so that’ll be cool.”
Donald is known for being a tireless worker and one of the most dedicated players in all of football. When the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021, Donald was back in the gym one day after their celebratory parade in L.A.
Fiske is wired similarly, coming to the Rams with an outstanding work ethic and motor. It’s part of what Los Angeles loved about him as a prospect, knowing he would work endlessly to succeed at the next level.
Naturally, people will compare Fiske to Donald based on the position they play and the fact that the Rams drafted Fiske less than two months after Donald retired, but the rookie isn’t trying to be anything other than himself.
“I have to be me,” Fiske said. “I have to build my own legacy and that’s what I’m looking forward to. I don’t feel like I’m really filling shoes, but I have to create my own shoes. That’s kind of what it is. I’m just excited to be a part of it and I know that’ll kind of always be the comparison of who’s going to fill his shoes, but somebody has to do it.”
That being said, he knows how special Donald was and he considers him to be the greatest ever.
“Big shoes to fill – we’re talking about the greatest ever. I’ve said it countless times – it’s the G.O.A.T,” Fiske said of Donald. “I full-heartedly feel that way about him and we’ve had small conversations — that’s been cool. It is what it is. I don’t think you ever replace the G.O.A.T. I have to go out there and do what I do.”