Former Steelers LB Talks Trading for Aaron Donald

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If the Los Angeles Rams are serious about trading all things defensive end Aaron Donald, then the Pittsburgh Steelers would be foolish not to do everything possible to bring him back to his hometown. But is such a deal realistic enough to consider?

Former Steelers outside linebacker Arthur Moats outlined how a deal between the Steelers and Rams to bring the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year back to Pittsburgh could be possible but unlikely.

The biggest obstacle is the salary cap, with the Steelers operating over the cap before the 2023 season. Omar Khan has some salary cap moves he could make to clear more cap space, but Donald is worth $13.4 million in 2023 and $15 million in 2024 a steep price to pay for a defense that already has four player who earns more than $14 million annually.

The Rams may decide to keep some of Donald’s salary as a pre-trade signing bonus, but what are they really willing to do, and what would the Steelers offer in a trade they’re willing to make? That’s where the conversation seems to get messy.

Will the Rams say they will do a fire sale and take on all the AD contracts while you get him and be productive? Moats said on The Arthur Moats Experience with Deke Podcast on Tuesday. Oh, I just don’t know. All this is unrealistic.

The Steelers have already traded with the Rams this offseason, bringing in wide receiver Alan Robinson II for a seventh-round pick swap, while the Rams kept the salary and the Steelers were able to renegotiate his contract to reduce the salary cap effect.

It would take a similar move to bring Donald home to Pittsburgh, but given the quality of the player involved, there will likely be serious competition in the form of other teams interested in his services, which could seriously raise the asking price.

Donald may want to return to Pittsburgh, and the Steelers would undoubtedly like to add one of the all-time greats along their defensive line, but it seems unlikely at this point.

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