Almost immediately after the Seattle Seahawks' NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams, traded for elite edge rusher Myles Garrett, some began to speculate that maybe the move makes Aaron Donald rethink his retirement. Why would he not come back to play alongside Garrett?
To be sure, Donald has not confirmed he is thinking about unretiring, despite what NFL insiders like Adam Schefter might theorize. The addition of Garrett would logically bring about speculation that Donald would return, though those same thoughts should be tempered, too.
For one, the Rams weren't exactly bad before they traded for Garrett. Donald wasn't thinking when he retired after the 2023 season that the team he had played with for 10 seasons couldn't contend. Obviously, they could. In fact, LA was probably the second-best team in the NFL last season after the Seahawks.
Seattle Seahawks fans might fear that Aaron Donald is thinking of returning to the Rams
Donald is also 35 years old. He would most likely still be a force in the middle of the Rams' defensive line (he was First-Team All-Pro in his final season), and is arguably the best player at his position, maybe ever. He was a menace to Seattle and other teams for the duration of his Pro Football Hall of Fame career.
His return would be scary enough because of how elite he was, but partnered with Garrett, Los Angeles would have one of the best defensive lines in the history of the league. This isn't hyperbole due to the Rams being a huge rival of the Seahawks. It would bear out statistically.
We aren't there yet, though, thankfully. We likely never will be. 35 years old isn't aged for many players, but for an interior defensive lineman, it is. Even as great as Donald was, he probably wouldn't be expected to reach the level he was at the height of his career. He also risks injury when returning, and leaving the game relatively healthy is one reason he retired when he did.
The speculation about Aaron Donald returning to the Los Angeles Rams after they added Myles Garrett could continue until the beginning of the season. The Garrett deal was made in June, and training camps don't start until mid-to-late July. National pundits will need something to discuss, of course.
Plus, just because Donald may or may not return to the NFL doesn't mean that the Seattle Seahawks can't beat the Rams with or without him, just as Seattle can beat LA now that they have Myles Garrett. Seattle is currently the alpha of the NFC West. It's up to the Rams to prove they can take the mantle back.
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