When discussing the best players in the NFL today, just about every conversation includes Aaron Donald being towards the top. He’s undoubtedly the top defender in the league, and many would argue there isn’t a more talented player on offense, either.
Pro Football Focus has long been a strong backer of Donald, consistently grading him as one of the best players around. That’s the case heading into 2019 with PFF ranking him No. 1 on the site’s list of the top 50 players entering next season.
Donald has single-handedly rewritten the PFF record books. He’s led his position in overall grade and pass-rush grade in every year after his rookie campaign in 2014. And he still ranked second in overall grade and third pass-rush grade as a first-year player five years ago. Four of the five best single-season pass-rush win rates in the PFF era (2006-18) belong to Donald.
Donald was the only Rams player to make the list, which is somewhat surprising. One would think Todd Gurley would be among the 50 best players in the league, but combine his knee injury with PFF’s reluctance to grade running backs highly and it’s easy to see why he didn’t make the cut.
Jared Goff hasn’t earned the distinction of being a top-50 player yet, but another Pro Bowl season in 2019 could vault him into the conversation.
Donald ranking No. 1 isn’t the least bit shocking, considering the job he’s done since coming into the league in 2014.
