All-Pro defensive tackle Aaron Donald will keep up with the Los Angeles Rams with a big raise that will make him the highest paid non-quarterback in the NFL.
The Rams reworked Donald’s deal to give him a $ 40 million increase over the last three years of his existing contract, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making him the first non-quarterback to eclipse $ 30 million per season. The reworked agreement raises the total value of Donald’s contract to $ 95 million over three years.
The deal includes $ 65 million guaranteed during the first two years of the contract and is structured so that Donald can retire or return for the 2024 season for an additional $ 30 million guaranteed, sources told Schefter.
The reworked contract includes a non-trade clause, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Donald, 31, was undergoing a physical examination and is expected to sign the contract later Monday, sources told Schefter. The Rams begin their mandatory mini-camp on Tuesday.
Donald had indicated on the podcast “I Am Athlete” last week that his return for the 2022 season was conditioned on reaching a new deal and that he would be “at peace” with his career if no deal could be reached.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year sealed the Rams ’victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI when he pressured quarterback Joe Burrow to make a wandering throw in the bottom quarter at the end of the fourth quarter.
Donald had 12.5 sacks in the regular season and then followed up with 3.5 more in the playoffs during the Rams ’Super Bowl championship run.
In eight seasons, Donald has 98 sacks. He has six seasons with at least 10 sacks, the second most by a major inside linebacker since the sacks were made official in 1982, just behind John Randle, who had nine of those seasons.
He has been selected for the Pro Bowl in each of his NFL seasons and has been selected for the All-Pro for the first time seven times. He is one of three defensive players since the 1970 merger to win a Pro Bowl selection in each of his first eight NFL seasons, along with Hall of Fame members Lawrence Taylor (10) and Derrick Thomas ( 9).
ESPN statistics and information contributed to this report.