Rams GM: Aaron Donald wants to come back; we’d like Odell Beckham Jr. back too

The Tremendous Bowl champion Rams are maintaining their priorities so as, or a minimum of addressing their offseason in that trend.

After signing quarterback Matthew Stafford to a $160-million extension final week, basic supervisor Les Snead has turned his consideration to star defensive lineman Aaron Donald.

Donald has three years remaining on the six-year, $135-million deal he obtained in 2018, however the Rams intend to offer the three-time NFL defensive participant of the 12 months a brand new contract as a reward for his efficiency — and to entice him to return for a ninth season and past.

Donald, a seven-time All-Professional, has not publicly refuted a tv report that stated he would take into account retiring if the Rams gained the Tremendous Bowl. However at a post-Tremendous Bowl parade rally he stated, “If we will deliver the tremendous workforce again, why not run it again?”

So, will Donald return because the Rams try and turn out to be the primary workforce in almost 20 years to repeat as Tremendous Bowl champion?

“Aaron’s articulated to us that he want to be again,” Snead stated Tuesday throughout a videoconference with reporters, “and he would undoubtedly prefer to proceed to attempt to do particular issues not solely as a person participant however as a workforce.”

Snead stated the Rams have “chatted” with Donald’s brokers.

“We’re making an attempt to provide you with a win-win state of affairs to reward Aaron however nonetheless undoubtedly have the ability to proceed making an attempt to compete as at workforce on the highest degree,” Snead stated.

For the reason that unofficial begin of free company on March 14, the Rams have misplaced, launched or traded a number of gamers from the workforce that defeated the Cincinnati Bengals to win Tremendous Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadiium.

Exterior linebackers Von Miller and Obo Okoronkwo, cornerback Darious Williams, lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day and tight finish Johnny Mundt signed with different groups. Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth retired. The Rams launched punter Johnny Hekker and traded receiver Robert Woods.

The Rams signed free-agent receiver Allen Robinson and re-signed offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom and heart Brian Allen.

The Rams held a roster spot and wage cap area for Miller, Snead stated, however when Miller agreed to phrases on a contract with the Buffalo Payments, the Rams determined to “pivot to a special place” and signed Robinson. The acquisition of the versatile receiver preceded the deal that despatched Woods — who carried a salary-cap variety of $15.7 million — to the Tennessee Titans for a 2023 sixth-round draft decide.

Snead cited three “variables” for why the Rams traded Woods: the Rams’ wage cap state of affairs, the chance to diversify the receiving corps and the persevering with evolution of gamers equivalent to third-year professional Van Jefferson, who’s enjoying on a rookie contract.

The Rams are persevering with to pursue free-agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Rams signed Beckham final November, and he carried out exceptionally properly earlier than struggling a knee damage within the Tremendous Bowl.

“He’s somebody that we would like, undoubtedly need again,” Snead stated, including, “When he’s attending to full velocity and has these recent legs, we’d like to have him be an element.”

Does that imply Snead anticipates Beckham will stay a free agent till maybe midseason?

“He has that selection,” Snead stated, including, “We now have been in dialogue with Odell, his illustration, proper, and [are trying] to make him a Ram ahead of later.”

The pool of high-profile free brokers shrank Tuesday when former Inexperienced Bay Packers outdoors linebacker Za’Darius Smith reportedly agreed to phrases with the Minnesota Vikings. However a number of stay available on the market, together with six-time All-Professional linebacker Bobby Wagner, who grew up within the Inland Empire.

Snead stated that he and coach Sean McVay and employees members consider completed gamers equivalent to Wagner, Smith and others to find out “his tremendous powers” and the way a participant’s ability set would possibly match.

“It might be just a little totally different than what we’re used to, and now we sit and analyze, ‘What if we deliver that participant on?’ ” Snead stated. “What you don’t need to do is deliver the participant on and ‘OK, you go proper into this mildew of what we did final 12 months.’

“We now have to have a look at what that participant does finest. … Why is his identify recognizable, and does that ability set match us? So, that’s what we’re persistently doing all through this course of.”