Party like it’s 2014, because not only is wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back with the New York Giants, defensive tackle Aaron Donald is back with the Los Angeles Rams.
In a move that we all suspected was coming, the all-time great defensive tackle announced that he is unretiring to play for the Rams in 2026. At the same time, about 85 offensive linemen all swore under their breath.
The Giants won’t have to wait long to see him in action, as they see the Rams in Week 2.
Yes, Donald is 35 years old
and retired after the 2023 season. However, he was still one of the most fearsome defensive tackles in the NFL when he retired. As Mina Kimes pointed out, Donald still led all defensive tackles in pass rush win rate despite teams routinely double and triple-teaming him.
We don’t know what Donald has left after two years away from football, though it’d be foolhardy to think he won’t still be (at least) be a dangerous rotational pass rusher.
And that’s what really makes the move scary. The Rams’ defensive front was already loaded after their trade for reigning DPOY and single-season sack king Myles Garrett. Garrett and Donald will now join forces with defensive tackles Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, and Poona Ford, as well as starting edge defender Byron Young.
The biggest saving grace for the Giants in Week 2 will be that the Rams have to travel back to Los Angeles from their Week 1 game in Australia. No team has ever done that before, and we simply don’t know how it’ll impact their recovery and preparation.
Beyond that, the Giants will have their work cut out for them when it comes to game planning on offense. They’ll likely need to get creative to get the ball out of quarterback Jaxson Dart’s hand safely, as well as do what they can to help interior linemen Jon Runyan Jr., John Michael Schmitz, and rookie Sisi Mauigoa.
The offense will likely have to get some help from the Giants’ own defense to keep Rams’ quarterback Matthew Stafford from putting too much pressure on the Giants to keep up in a shootout.
This was never going to be an easy game, and we might see some truly funny odds from Vegas on it.
