Aaron Donald has earned a well-deserved break, and some pocket change, is a definite Hall of Famer and should be a first-round pick when he becomes eligible in 2029, after calling it quits at the LA Rams.
Donald is regarded as the best defensive player in the history of the NFL and has been a one franchise player after being drafted by the Rams as the 13th overall pick in 2014.
Donald has spent 10 years playing at the highest level and is a Superbowl winner and a record three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
Add his Rookie Defensive Player of the Year award in 2014 and for 40% of his career he has been the best of the best.
He has deservedly earned some coin over the years with three multi-million-dollar contracts and reported take home money of $157.1 million.
He was a Pro Bowler for all ten of his seasons in the NFL and was named in the All-Decade team of the 2010’s.
The defensive tackle had a total of 111.0 sacks, 543 tackles, 24 forced fumbles and 21 pass deflections.
A look at his contract history tells its own story.
In 2014 Donald signed a 4-year, $10,136,500 contract with the Rams, including a $5,692,000 signing bonus, $10,136,500 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,534,125.
From 2018 to 2024 Donald signed a six-year $135 million contract with the Los Angeles Rams, including a $40,000,000 signing bonus, $86,892,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $22.5 million.
He signed again for the Rams in 2022 this time on a three-year contract worth $95 million, including a $25 million signing bonus and the whole amount guaranteed.
According to Spotrac he totalled $157.1 million in a decade. Ahem, not bad for a defensive player.
