Donald's retirement leaves a big opportunity for one of LA Rams defensive lineman to make a big step up into a whole that’s been left by one of the best players to ever play the game.
Five of the Rams first six draft picks in the 2024 draft were on the defensive side of the ball with four of those five being defensive linemen.
VAVEL looks at five Rams players who could attempt to fill the void left by Aaron Donald.
DE - Jared Verse
The Rams had a first-round draft pick for the first time in eight years when they selected Jared Goff in the 2016 Draft. The used the pick on Jared Verse of the Florida State Seminoles.
Verse becomes the first defensive player drafted by the Rams in the first round since Aaron Donald.
The defensive end was projected to go earlier in the draft, but he dropped to 19th and the Rams picked him up.
Verse’s final year in college was an impressive one. He had nine sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, 13 QB pressures and one forced fumble.
Verse will likely line up in the edge where Donald predominantly lined up in the middle but of all the current Rams D-line players, Verse looks the most likely to pick up where Donald left off.
DT- Braden Fiske
The Rams drafted Fiske in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft joining his Florida State teammate Verse on the Rams.
The Defensive tackle had six sacks, nine tackles for loss, six QB hits and 23 QB pressures for the Seminoles in 2023.
It was clear to see the Rams strategy in the earlier rounds of the draft - Stack the Defensive line in the absence of Donald.
DE - Brennan Jackson
Of the five players on this list Jackson has the lowest stock but don’t be suprised if come January he is on of the suprises of the 2024 season - after all the Rams have a reputation of hitting on late round picks - look at fellow fifth round draft pick Puka Nacua.
Jackson was took 154th overall by the Rams but had an impressive stat line during his last season at Washington state in 2023. Jackson had 8.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss, five qb hits, 25 qb hurries and a forced fumble.
NT - Kobie Turner
“The Conductor” was drafted by the Rams in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft.
Turner enjoyed a successful first season in LA leading the team with nine sacks - one ahead of Aaron Donald.
The Nose Tackle also had two pass deflections, eight tackles for loss and 16 QB hits.
The Rams may feel like they hit the jackpot with Turner as he looks like a natural predecessor to Donald and even got to work with the future hall of famer for a year.
OLB - Byron Young
Young was another player that the Rams drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Much like Turner he also exceeded expectations with the outside linebacker having a mini competition with Turner and AD to see who could lead the team in sacks.
Young finished level with the three-time defensive player of the year on eight sacks, with both finishing a sack behind turner.
The former Tennessee linebacker finished his first season in the NFL with 61 tackles, eight for loss, 19 QB hits and two forced fumbles.
