NFL news updates: Rams discussing new Aaron Donald deal; COVID-19 restrictions lifted, Ravens favored to win AFC North

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Rams GM Les Snead says the team and defensive lineman Aaron Donald have discussed a new contract and that he thinks the two sides are in a good place.

“I never say anything with certainty (but) that’s not a concern right now,” Snead said Wednesday, of whether they will be able to get something done and whether Donald will stay.

Donald was a key part of the Rams’ Super Bowl run and head coach Sean McVay has made it known that he wants the All-Pro back with the Rams for the 2022 season. While on stage in front of fans at the Rams’ victory parade, McVay was handed a microphone and started chanting to Donald: “Run it back! Run it back!”

Donald replied: “We built a super team. We could bring the super team back. Why not run it back. We could be world champs again,” as he hoisted the Lombardi Trophy over his head.

Donald considered the possibility of retirement following his team’s Super Bowl win and not just for contract-related reasons, but also family-related, per multiple sources. But the team never seemed too concerned that he would in fact walk away.

Snead said that in conversations between he and Donald and McVay and Donald post-victory parade, there was definitely a sense of wanting to “enjoy the moment, take a break but to also go, ‘Hey, you know what? If we want to try to do this again and do something special with this group with the men and women that we have in this organization, let’s do it. ‘ I know there was a sentiment there. “

Snead also said Los Angeles wants another contributor from its championship team back in a Rams uniform. He told reporters Wednesday that the team “would definitely like” to re-sign receiver Odell Beckham Jr, who the team acquired during the 2021 season after he and the Browns parted ways. Beckham made an impact for Los Angeles in the postseason, with 19 catches on 23 targets for 236 yards and a touchdown in three NFC playoff games.He tore his ACL in the 23-20 Super Bowl LVI triumph against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Beckham has publicly stated he would take less money to stay in Los Angeles. He and receiver Robert Woods are recovering from ACL tears (Woods suffered his in November). Snead added that the team’s roster plan and replacement plan in the shorter term while Beckham recovers would obviously have to change, but indicated the Rams would be flexible in doing so.

“The positive (if Beckham misses a substantial period of time),” Snead said. “… is that you may get someone with very fresh legs for the stretch mark, similarly to maybe how we did it this year.”

Snead also said a contract extension for quarterback Matthew Stafford is a priority as well and that it could help alleviate some salary cap tightness along the way.

McVay said it’s a matter of the highest priority to get a Stafford extension and Donald contract done – not just because of how that will shape the rest of their free agency period, but also because of their value to the team on either side of the ball .

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