Aaron Donald is officially back in the NFL, returning to the Los Angeles Rams for the 2026 season after two full years away from the game. This isn’t just a former star making a comeback, this is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year stepping back onto the field for a team that was already pegged as a 2026 Super Bowl favorite. The news absolutely blew up the DPOY oddsboard, with Donald instantly soaring to +4500 at FanDuel Sportsbook.
The Return of a Legend
Think about it, two seasons away from the grind of the NFL, and Aaron Donald just decides he’s ready to play again. This dude won the DPOY award three times during his first stint with the Rams in 2017, 2018, and 2020. He’s their all-time sack leader with a ridiculous 111 career sacks. The biggest question everybody is asking: what’s he gonna look like after all that time off? In 2023, his last season before hanging it up, he posted eight sacks in 16 games. Before that, it was five sacks in 11 games in 2022. But rewind to 2018-2021, and we saw him rack up at least 12.5 sacks in four straight seasons, including a mind-blowing 20.5 sacks in 2018. If he can even get close to that form, the league is in trouble. What kind of snap count will the Rams even put him on? Can the man truly return to that dominant, game-wrecking level? The books clearly think it’s possible, even with him at +4500.
Rams Building a Monster Defense
Let’s not forget, the Rams were already making huge moves. After falling just short of a Super Bowl appearance last season, they went out and landed reigning DPOY Myles Garrett in a massive trade with the Cleveland Browns back in June. Garrett, the unanimous DPOY in 2025, broke the single-season sack record with 23 sacks, taking all 50 first-place votes. Now, you’re telling me Donald, the Rams’ all-time sack leader, is joining forces with Garrett? That’s just unfair. These two guys have combined for a crazy 236.5 career sacks. We’re talking about a defense that could be absolutely historic. Myles Garrett is currently the favorite for 2026 DPOY at +400, and he’s earned it. But with Donald back in the mix, opposing quarterbacks are gonna be sleeping with one eye open.
The DPOY Race Just Got Real
As of August 31, Myles Garrett sits atop the DPOY odds at +400. Right behind him is Will Anderson Jr. at +650, who put up 12 sacks in 2025 and was fourth in the league in pass rush win rate at 23%. Then you’ve got names like Aidan Hutchinson (+900) and Maxx Crosby (+2200) in the mix. But Aaron Donald at +4500? That’s a juicy long shot for a player who, at his peak, was arguably the most dominant defender of his generation. The biggest thing to watch this season is exactly what kind of impact Donald has, especially playing alongside Garrett. Can they truly form the most terrifying pass-rushing duo the NFL has ever seen? The 2026 season is gonna be wild, and the DPOY race just got a whole lot more interesting with Donald back on the field.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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