Tag: Aaron Donald

Byron Murphy II says he’s studied Seahawks great Michael Bennett a lot

Seattle fans now have legitimate hope that soon their defensive line will once again be the envy of the NFL.

The last time the Seattle Seahawks had a dominant defensive line it was when Cliff Avril was disrupting opponents from the edge, Red Bryant was stuffing everybody inside and Michael Bennett was wreaking havoc all over the place. Seattle fans now have legitimate hope that soon their defensive line will once again be the envy of the NFL.

Last night the team picked Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, who is the top-ranked interior defensive linemen in the 2024 draft class. Even better, Murphy is a Seahawks fans who grew up idolozing the Legion of Boom and Marshawn Lynch. Murphy also says he studied Bennett a lot.

Murphy earned the highest pass rush grade in the nation last season at his position and also did splendid work against the run.

Bennett of course set a very high standard to match – to say nothing of all the Aaron Donald comps that Murphy got during draft season. One thing he does have in common with them is his ability to disrupt from multiple positions.

Murphy told the local media last night that he’s an all-three-downs type of guy. The team views him as a 3-tech who can also play nose tackle.

That means Murphy could replace either Jarran Reed or Dre’Mont Jones in the starting lineup if the Seahawks stick with their 3-4 fronts under new head coach Mike Macdonald. Throw in Leonard Williams and Seattle should have one of the best defensive lines in the league, at least on paper.

More Seahawks Wire stories

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Jared Verse reveals the advice Aaron Donald gave him a few years ago

Aaron Donald shared some valuable advice for Jared Verse a few years ago, which should help the newest member of the Rams

Aaron Donald is no longer on the Rams’ roster, but he’s still having a positive effect on the team he spent the last 10 seasons with. In addition to helping Kobie Turner and Byron Young last year when they were rookies, he worked with the Rams’ newest player, Jared Verse, a few years ago.

After Verse was selected by the Rams at No. 19 overall, he met with the media for the first time and revealed that he had a Zoom call with Donald in the past. During that call, Donald shared some valuable advice for the young edge rusher.

He told Verse that he doesn’t need to have “a huge arsenal of moves,” and that he only needs a few good ones that he executes “to the highest level.” Donald, ever the aggressive pass rusher, reminded Verse that “aggression beats everything.”

Though Donald and Verse play different positions, the goal of any pass rusher is the same: to beat the blocker across from you and pressure the quarterback. Donald made a living in opposing backfields and the hope is that Verse can do the same from his outside linebacker position.

Why the Rams may not draft a defensive tackle as early as some think

Defensive tackle is viewed as a position of need for the Rams, but they may not take one early like many people think they will

After Aaron Donald announced his retirement from the NFL, the immediate question was “how will the Rams replace him?” They haven’t signed anyone in free agency, which points to them drafting a defensive tackle early to fill the massive void left by No. 99.

No single player can take the place of the future Hall of Famer, but it’s possible the Rams already have his successor on the roster. That player is Kobie Turner, who should’ve won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2023.

When you think about it, the Rams actually drafted Donald’s replacement a year ago when they selected Turner 89th overall out of Wake Forest. He’s the primary reason Los Angeles may not draft a defensive tackle such as Byron Murphy II or Johnny Newton as early as many people think they will.

Though Turner played a bunch of snaps at nose tackle last season alongside Donald, he’s a much better fit at 3-technique, the position Donald played throughout his career. He’s 6-foot-2 and 288 pounds, which is only 1 inch taller and 8 pounds heavier than Donald’s listed weight. Nose tackles in a 3-4 scheme are typically much bigger – like Bobby Brown III, who’s 6-foot-4 and 324 pounds. That’s a run-stuffing nose tackle. Turner is a pass-rushing 3-technique.

In the Rams’ case, they need a nose tackle more than they need a 3-technique to replace Donald. Turner can be that player to fill Donald’s void, already showing impressive pass-rushing skills with nine sacks last season to tie the Rams rookie record, which was set by Donald in 2014.

Not to mention, the Rams probably knew Donald was only going to play two more years when he signed his new contract in 2022. VP of football operations Tony Pastoors told The Athletic that when Donald signed his deal in 2022, he “looked me in the face and said, ‘I’m playing two years.’” The structure of Donald’s contract, which came with an option in 2024, suggests the Rams had a strong feeling he’d retire after the 2023 season, too.

As a result, they knew they’d need to find Donald’s replacement sooner rather than later, which is why they drafted Turner when they did. They viewed him as Donald’s heir, not some rookie in the 2024 class.

Murphy and Newton are both fantastic players and would help the Rams right away, but it’s very possible the front office and coaching staff view Turner as their replacement for Donald. In that case, Los Angeles would be better suited to draft a 5-technique like Darius Robinson or a nose tackle such as McKinnley Jackson to play alongside Turner.

It’ll be fascinating to see if the Rams take Murphy or Newton in the first round if either is available at No. 19, or if they wait much longer to take a defensive lineman. My money would be on the latter, simply because Turner would make a fantastic full-time 3-tech after playing a bunch of nose tackle in 2023.

Aaron Donald unsure how he’ll feel when football season rolls around

Aaron Donald admits he doesn’t know how he’ll feel when the season comes around in September, but that doesn’t mean he’s planning a comeback

The summer and fall of 2024 will look very different for Aaron Donald. For the first time since 2013, he won’t be preparing for a season in the NFL. He won’t be heading to training camp, practicing Wednesday through Friday and suiting up on Sundays.

Now that he’s retired, he’ll be spending his Sundays watching football, either on TV or in the stands. He’ll still be supporting his Rams but it’ll be odd not seeing No. 99 in the middle of the defensive line splitting double-teams and harassing quarterbacks.

Donald has plenty of things keeping him busy right now, like his foundation and other business ventures he’s involved in, but he admits he doesn’t know how he’ll feel when football season rolls around and he’s not putting the pads on.

That doesn’t mean he’s planning to come out of retirement, but he’s unsure how he’ll feel when the season starts in September.

“It’s just not knowing as far as how I’m going to feel when the season’s actually around,” Donald told Chris Long on “Green Light” when asked what scares him about retirement. “Right now, I’m happy, I’m at peace. I got the development company going on, Donald Development Group, where we got 38 units we’re working on in Pittsburgh. We just did some meetings to potentially get some more projects our way. Got the Ready brand that’s doing amazing that I’ve got ownership in. AD99 Solutions, so I got things I’m focusing on, things that got to the point where we’ve got an income coming in.

“But as far as knowing what’s going to happen when the season comes around and I’m not on the field, I’m not part of it, I don’t know how I’m going to feel. In my head, I’m like, I’m going to be happy watching it on TV or watching it in the stands, but I don’t know. For me it’s just not knowing how I’m going to feel, because you never know until it’s time, right?”

Long asked Donald if he could share a bit about his secrets when it comes to preparation and being as disruptive as he was, before adding this: “Or are you coming back this fall?”

Donald’s response was a swift “hell no,” so there’s no indication he’s even considering a return to the field. No one would blame him if he did miss the game this fall and have the slightest itch to come back, but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.

As much as he might miss it, he just doesn’t have the fire and passion to come back for another season – which is admittedly hard to believe for the guy who was back in the gym a week after winning the Super Bowl.

Had he come back for another season and played in 2024, Donald could’ve earned another $30 million guaranteed. That would be enough to entice anyone to play another year, but the fact that he turned down that amount of money shows he just doesn’t have the same drive he always has.

He told Long that if he had come back for another year, he’d have only been doing it for the money, which would’ve made him feel like he was cheating the game.

Plus, he absolutely hated going through training camp every year.

“I just was never a fan of camp, bro. I just don’t have the passion. Thinking about having another camp, I’m like, there’s no way,” he said. “That’s why my two holdout years, I was loving that. I don’t have to do camp. I just train, I’m with the family now and I come back for the season. I actually enjoyed that. But I just don’t have the passion to go through another – thinking about the season and work and all the things I’ve got to do to keep my body up, I just don’t have the urge to do it anymore, so the passion to play the game is no longer there. If I was to come back, I feel like I’m just coming back for a check and I can’t disrespect the game of football like that and just play for money. I never was that guy, I can’t be that guy now because if I was to do that, I wouldn’t be the same player that I was.”

Donald is happily retired and enjoying life after football so far – which is affording him the opportunity to spend time with his family and pursue other off-field ventures. He might miss the game come September, but no one should hold their breath on a comeback.

NFL legend Aaron Donald says a former Wisconsin Badger is the league’s best defensive player

NFL legend Aaron Donald says a former Wisconsin Badger is the league’s best defensive player

NFL legend Aaron Donald joined the Green Light podcast with Chris Long this week and gave his take on the league’s best defensive player — now that he’s retired from the sport.

His answer: former Wisconsin Badgers outside linebacker T.J. Watt.

“Right now, I think it’s T.J. Watt,” Donald said. “If you talk about a guy that’s consistent, been doing it year-in and year-out consistently. That’s going to get you 15 sacks, or 13 sacks or damn 22 sacks consistent. He’s the guy that’s been doing it. … Interceptions every year, touchdowns. His stats be ridiculous.”

Related: Evaluating the Big Ten’s next targets for conference expansion

The stats back it up, as Donald noted. Watt’s seven-year NFL career has already included 96.5 sacks, 107 tackles for loss, 198 quarterback hits, 27 forced fumbles and seven interceptions. Those counting stats, plus six Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro honors and the 2021 AP Defensive Player of the Year.

Many around the league said Donald was still the scariest defender in the league, even in 2023 in his 10th NFL season. Watt now has a chance to decisively take that crown with Donald retired.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

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WATCH: Aaron Donald says Jason Kelce, Eagles scheme gave him the most trouble

Former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald told Chris Long and The Green Light Gang that Jason Kelce gave him the most problems

Los Angeles Rams 8-time All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald recently announced his retirement after ten seasons in the NFL.

Donald will join Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox as potential 2029 Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees.

“I have been fortunate to play football at the highest level for ten years. I’m thankful for the people I’ve met along the way, the relationships I’ve built, and the things I’ve accomplished with my teammates and individually,” Donald said in a lengthy statement in which he thanked both the cities of St. Louis and Los Angeles.

Donald walks away with 10 Pro Bowl selections, eight first-team All-Pro honors, three AP Defensive Player of the Year awards, a Super Bowl ring, and a place on the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team of the 2010s.

During a recent interview on the Green Light With Chris Long Podcast, Donald was asked which offensive line or individual player has given him the most problems over his career.

Donald wasted no time naming Kelce and the Eagles’ scheme for always game-planning and assigning multiple players to him.

Donald had five solo tackles and five assists in 5 games against the Eagles.

Watch Aaron Donald’s candid and entertaining interview with Chris Long

Aaron Donald and Chris Long talked about practice fights, Kobie Turner, Jeff Fisher and several other topics on the “Green Light” podcast

Aaron Donald is in his first month of retirement after calling it a career in March and one of his first interviews since retiring was with Chris Long on the “Green Light” podcast. Donald stopped by Long’s show this week to discuss his career, what’s next in his post-football life, training camp fights and more.

He also discussed Sean McVay as a head coach and what makes him so great, appreciating all that he’s done as a coach and as a person off the field.

Donald and Long go way back, spending two years together as teammates in St. Louis in 2014 and 2015, so their chat on the podcast came naturally. It’s a candid conversation, which also made it a very entertaining one, with the two former Rams talking about the days of playing alongside guys such as William Hayes and Michael Brockers.

Check out the full interview below. It’s well worth your time.

Aaron Donald says Rams are in ‘a good position’ but should address one position

Aaron Donald thinks the Rams are “going to be a great team” in 2024 but they could still use help at one position

For the first time since 2013, Aaron Donald won’t be suiting up for the Rams. He retired after 10 seasons, leaving the game of football as one of the best to ever take the field.

Despite the fact that he won’t be playing for the team anymore, he’s still going to pay close attention to them. Donald is excited to watch them play this season and feels they have a good chance to contend in 2024.

He’s particularly confident in the offense, especially after re-signing Kevin Dotson and bringing in Jonah Jackson to improve the O-line.

“I think we got a great offense. We got a great offense. I think they just added, as far as beefing up the offensive line to help with the running game and protecting Stafford,” Donald said on “Green Light with Chris Long” this week. “I think they’ve still got some key pieces at wide receiver. They’ve still got Cooper Kupp, they’ve still got Puka. They got Robinson, they brought him back. They’ve got some good pieces.”

He does believe the Rams could stand to add help at one position, though. During his chat with Long, Donald said he’d like to see Los Angeles add an edge rusher to round out the defense – either a proven veteran or a prospect in the draft.

It’s similar to the feeling many fans have right now, knowing the outside linebacker group is the weakest on the roster.

“On defense, I think we’ve got good guys on the end but I think we can help with some edge help and I think they did (well) as far as bringing some corners in and some guys in the secondary to help,” he continued. “I think they’re in a good position right now. If anything, if I was to say one thing the Rams need just a little bit of help with, I would say just the edge rusher. Just getting an extra edge rusher, some guy that’s got some experience or find a good guy in the draft that can get it done. You see what we did in the draft last year, nobody expected us to be the team (we were) and a lot of the rookies end up making names for themselves and dominating, so if you get another piece like that that can help on the edge, I think the Rams are going to be a great team. it’s going to be fun to watch. I’m excited to watch the Rams play this year. I’m not going to be out there but I just feel like they’re going to have a lot of success, I really do. I think they’ve got all the pieces they need. Add a piece here as far as the edge guy and then they made some moves to help them get better.”

The Rams have all but ignored the outside linebacker position in the last two offseasons, with the exception of selecting Byron Young in Round 3 and adding Nick Hampton and Ochaun Mathis later in the draft. Young and Michael Hoecht are the projected starters once again in 2024, but edge rusher should be the team’s top priority in the draft.

The pass rush as a whole will have a tougher time generating pressure now without Donald drawing double-teams every snap, so the Rams have to address this hole sooner rather than later.

Aaron Donald reveals he was 30 pounds lighter than his listed weight in 2018

Aaron Donald was always listed at 280 pounds but he got all the way down to 250 at one point in his career

Aaron Donald was not like most defensive tackles in the NFL. He’s faster than just about all of them, more powerful than even the biggest nose tackles and quicker than even some running backs.

Part of what made him so special was his ability to use his power and leverage to beat opposing linemen on the interior despite being much smaller than every guard and center he went up against.

He measured in at 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds at the NFL combine in 2014 and just about each year, he was listed at 280 pounds. Yet, he rarely played at that weight during his career.

He told Chris Long on the “Green Light Podcast” this week that although he played at 280-285 pounds in his first two seasons, he played every other year at 267 pounds or lighter.

In 2018, he was at his lightest weight. During that season, he played between 250 and 260 pounds, weighing 258 pounds in the Super Bowl that year.

At 250 pounds, that’s 30 pounds lighter than his listed weight, which is ridiculous for an NFL defensive tackle. For comparison, the lightest defensive tackle at the combine this year was Eric Watts at 274 pounds.

“I ain’t never touched 300,” Donald said. “My first two years, I played at probably 280-285. My third year was around 270-275. Every other year I played at probably 260, 267 sometimes. In 2018, (that) was my lightest year. I played that whole year probably around 250-260 that whole year. I was 258 in the Super Bowl in 2018. I was 258 as a defensive tackle in the National Football League in the Super Bowl. I was playing at 250-260 that whole year.”

Incredibly, Donald didn’t lose any sort of strength or power despite being so light. With all the weights he lifted and training he did, he kept up his strength – as evidenced by his insanely ripped physique.

“Hell no! I work out all the time. I lift weights all the time. I always keep my strength, bro. I gotta lift. I gotta feel the weight,” he said. “I just trim my body up, my second holdout back-to-back. All I’m doing is working out every day, training. That’s all I was doing. That’s when I got a six-pack. ’18, that’s when my body really changed. I don’t know, we were blowing a lot of teams out so we had the opportunity to rush a lot, just felt fast as hell. Fast, quick, use a lot of quickness.”

The 2018 season was the best of Donald’s career, so slimming down didn’t hurt him in the least bit. That year, he led the NFL with 20.5 sacks and 25 tackles for a loss, earning his second Defensive Player of the Year award and helping lead the Rams to the Super Bowl.

It’s crazy to think a defensive tackle could have the level of success that Donald had at 250 pounds, but that’s what made him so special.

Aaron Donald: Puka Nacua has potential to ‘do some things that have never been done’

Aaron Donald sees greatness in Puka Nacua’s future if he continues to put in the work

Puka Nacua may not have won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2023, but there’s no question he had one of the best seasons ever by a rookie receiver. He set rookie records with 105 catches and 1,486 yards, also scoring six touchdowns in his first season – including the game-winner in overtime against the Colts.

It’s even more impressive considering he was a fifth-round pick, so no one expected him to have the type of season he had right away.

Aaron Donald, for one, was impressed by Nacua in training camp, but he wanted to see him carry that over into the games. Obviously, he did just that, getting better as the season went on and nearly helping the Rams upset the Lions in the wild-card round.

Donald was blown away by Nacua’s rookie season and says it’s one of the best rookie years by any player that he’s ever witnessed.

“He’s a football player, that type of player you want on your team. A tough guy that plays hard, plays tough,” Donald said on the “Green Light Podcast” with Chris Long. “From the first game, he was just consistent. Then the Colts game, we ended up going into overtime, he ended up making the game-winning touchdown for us. He’s just been a consistent player since Day 1 and then he just got better and better and better. It’s like, god, I didn’t expect him to be the player he was this year but in my opinion, to be honest with you, for any position, me personally watching, that’s probably one of the best rookie performances from any position that I got the opportunity to watch.”

As good as Nacua was in his first season, he still has room to grow. That’s terrifying for opposing defenses and exciting for the Rams, knowing he could be even better in 2024.

Having seen the work Nacua puts in, Donald believes he can accomplish some things in the NFL that have never been done before.

“You see young guys that play and they fall off a little bit, but for him to stay as poised as he did for the whole season as far as, like, he became a household name as a rookie and he didn’t change,” Donald continued. “He stayed the same person, he kept doing the same things every single week and it’s like, if he stays like that and he stays hungry and if he wants to be great, in my opinion, I think he can do some things that have never been done in this league. But he’s just got to keep working, but he was fun to watch. I really enjoyed watching him, all the awards he was able to surpass, records he was able to break as a rookie.”

Donald knows greatness when he sees it and he believes Nacua can be one of the best to do it if he stays on the path he’s currently on.