Aaron Donald Returns To Rams: Super Bowl Favorites Locked In
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Aaron Donald Returns To Rams: Super Bowl Favorites Locked In

Kody Malstrom analyzes the breaking news about Aaron Donald coming out of retirement to help the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl chances.

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After a summer of speculation, Aaron Donald has officially announced he is making his return to football. A stunning addition to the already-stacked Los Angeles Rams, giving them another dominant weapon in the interior. With Donald back in the fold, is it the Rams' Super Bowl to lose?

LA_rams-logo.svg What Aaron Donald’s Unretirement Means for the Rams

After the Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI, Donald shockingly retired following the 2023 season, capping off a Hall of Fame-worthy career. A career that was defined by 10 Pro Bowls, eight First Team All-Pros, three Defensive Player of the Year awards and plenty of other titles to fill out his mantle. Even in the final year of his career, Donald was still productive, generating 8 sacks and 53 total tackles while dealing with constant double teams.

Speaking of double teams, his presence in the interior will be invaluable to the Rams this season, forcing opposing offensive lines to shade their coverage back toward the middle instead of cheating to the outside toward Myles Garrett. When dealing with single assignments, Donald and Garrett are nearly unstoppable, shedding their blockers with ease en route to a pressure in the backfield.

Even if Donald is unable to round back into dominant form, the productive depth he gives the Rams will also go a long way, making it easier for them to weave through a grueling schedule with intentions of making a run at the Super Bowl. Before the addition of Donald, the Rams were already projected to field one of the best defenses in the league, a unit that currently resides in the top five in defensive DVOA.

Their odds to win the Super Bowl reflect how well-rounded the Rams are this season, sitting comfortably ahead of the rest of the field at the top of the oddsboard to win the title. While Donald’s unretirement may move the needle ever so slightly with regard to their shift in odds, it does not take away the production their defense will receive with the future Hall of Famer back on the field.

Are the Rams Worth a Bet to Win the Super Bowl?

When it comes to betting on season-long futures for the NFL, it’s normally wise to avoid the top of the oddsboard with the margins between contenders so razor-thin. One injury can completely wipe away a team’s actual chances of rattling off a run, making your short ticket near impossible to hedge out even if they make it to the playoffs.

With that said, it’s tough to ignore how well-rounded the Rams are, especially when factoring in their rebuilt secondary to help complement their front seven. Even if the Rams offense shows signs of regression with Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams playing well past their prime, their defense will keep them competitive enough to avoid falling into a hole.

At +550, the Rams are worth an addition to the Super Bowl portfolio, yet make sure you surround them with other valuable pieces. Other top contenders worth including are the Seattle Seahawks, who currently possess the highest DVOA per Aaron Schatz, as well as the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans to help create a base.

While Donald makes the Rams even more daunting as the deserving favorite to win the title, anything can happen in a highly volatile sport.

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