No team in the NFL generated pressure on the quarterback at a higher rate last season than the Los Angeles Rams. That’s somewhat hard to believe considering they ranked 15th with just 41 sacks as a team.
Aaron Donald had exactly half of those with 20.5 of his own, absolutely carrying the Rams’ pass rush. Los Angeles hopes that isn’t the case in 2019 after bringing back Dante Fowler Jr. for $14 million and signing Clay Matthews in free agency.
Pro Football Focus isn’t so confident the pass rush will be any better than it was last season. The Rams were ranked ninth among all 32 pass-rush units in the NFL entering this season, largely because of Donald.
This is purely what Aaron Donald brings to the table. Put three guys off the street next to Donald, and you’ve still got a top-10 pass-rush. That’s just how frequently and quickly he wins.
The Rams don’t have the across-the-board talent that the Eagles or Browns or Chargers do, but what they do have is the best pass rusher in the league. Donald completely elevates the rest of the defense in a way few other players can.
Some argue his value because the Rams ranked 32nd in yards per carry allowed and only had 41 sacks as a team. But just for a second imagine what the defense would look like without Donald on it.
