Why Aaron Donald Return Would Solidify Rams as 2026 Super Bowl Favorites Amid Latest NFL Rumors

With minicamps over and training camps not set to be in full swing until the end of the month, the NFL is in it's annual quiet period. While there has been no on-field activity, though, there's been plenty of buzz off the field.

The latest involves future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, who has sparked speculation about an NFL return ever since the Los Angeles Rams traded for Myles Garrett on June 1.

"It for sure got me thinking," Donald told Pat McAfee of ESPN after the Garrett trade.

On Sunday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported that while Donald has been spotted working out at the Rams' facility, that doesn't guarantee his return is imminent.

Fowler said the following on SportsCenter (h/t Bleacher Report's Adam Wells):

"He's been at the facility off and on really for the last few years working out, I can confirm that. I'm told he has not made a firm decision on whether to play and come out of retirement. It does seem like the Rams are at least leaning into that possibility, and the player is too."

Why is the potential return of a 35-year-old interior defender who hasn't played in over two full years so fascinating? Well, part of it is the reality that Donald is one of the most impactful defenders of the modern NFL era. Part of it is the fact that his return would cement Los Angeles as the top Super Bowl contender in the league.

To be fair, the Rams are already the Super Bowl favorites, by quite a bit, according to FanDuel Sportsbook:

Los Angeles Rams +500 (bet $100 to win $500)

Buffalo Bills +1000

Baltimore Ravens +1100

Seattle Seahawks +1200

Los Angeles Chargers +1600

Kansas City Chiefs +1600

However, adding Donald would be the cherry on top of the hot-fudge-blanketed sundae that is the Rams' roster.

Los Angeles is bringing back the bulk of an offense that ranked first overall and first in scoring last season. That includes reigning MVP and quarterback Matthew Stafford. GM Les Snead also took an aggressive approach to reloading a defense that ranked 17th overall and 10th in points allowed last season.

L.A. traded for cornerback Trent McDuffie and then added his Kansas City Chiefs running mate, Jaylen Watson, in free agency. That should significantly strengthen a secondary that ranked 19th in yards allowed last year.

Adding Garrett, who is the Defensive Player of the Year favorite, according to FanDuel, was the coup de grace. The Rams had to give up Jared Verse to get Garrett, but the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is an upgrade.

If Garrett can set the NFL single-season record with 23 sacks while playing with a Cleveland Browns team that rarely held a lead, he could put up truly gaudy numbers in Chris Shula's new-look defense.

However, adding Donald could only make Garrett, and the Rams' defense as a whole, better—even if he isn't prepared to return as a full-time player.

Donald was very effective when he last played, generating eight sacks and 31 QB pressures in 2023. Even as a rotational interior pass-rusher, he'd be a terror against opposing quarterbacks—especially if offenses can't consistently double-team him.

If Garrett and Donald are both on the field together, consistently double-teaming both of them will be practically impossible. And that's before accounting for defenders like Byron Young (12 sacks in 2025) and Kobie Turner (7 sacks in 2025).

The reality is that the Rams' offense should be good enough again to go head-to-head with any unit in the NFL this season, and their defense should be better than it was a year ago.

If that defense had gotten just another stop against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC title game, we'd probably be talking about the Rams as the defending champs instead of the Seahawks. If Los Angeles can add Donald to what it already has, that'll help ensure that if and when the defense needs a critical stop in the postseason, it'll get it.