Emmanuel Acho Feels Aaron Donald’s Potential Return Would Give Rams the Best Defensive Line Ever

Emmanuel Acho says that the Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald partnership will make the Rams defensive line the best in league history.

Emmanuel Acho Feels Aaron Donald’s Potential Return Would Give Rams the Best Defensive Line Ever

Aaron Donald and Emmanuel Acho (inset) (via IMAGO and YouTube)

Aaron Donald retired from football after the 2023-24 NFL season. After two years away from the professional game, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year is looking to return to the Los Angeles Rams for another shot at a second Super Bowl ring.

Speculations about Aaron Donald making a comeback sprouted after the Rams traded for Myles Garrett. Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho believes that if the Rams add Donald to their already fearsome defense, then it would become the best defense in the NFL. Acho said on a recent segment of Speakeasy:

If Aaron Donald joins the Rams, it would be the best D-Line in history of football, because two best are greater than two that we have seen playing on the same team at the same time. You could argue we have seen deeper defensive lines… [I am] not sure there have been deeper defensive lines that will aggregate more sacks than those two, but what you could do with Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett, football fans, it’s something you have never seen before.

Acho argued that the Rams would have greater flexibility with both Garrett and Donald on their defensive line. They could experiment with several plays due to their peak physical capabilities and knowledge about the game. Acho added:

Offensive lines might as well be handicapped because they would be playing against such a disadvantage.

Donald was drafted 13th overall in 2024. He made 154 appearances with the Rams, racking up 543 tackles, 111 sacks, 176 TFLs and 21 passes defensed. He earned 10 Pro Bowls and eight All-Pro honors, three DPOYs, and won the Super Bowl in 2021-22.

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Aaron Donald worked out at the Rams facility

The Rams’ effort to reinstate Aaron Donald received a big push on Wednesday after he practiced with the team at their spring camp in Woodland Hills, California. Cameras filmed Donald going through a few drills.

Emmanuel Acho Feels Aaron Donald's Potential Return Would Give Rams the Best Defensive Line Ever
Aaron Donald (Image via IMAGO)

Later, Adam Schefter of ESPN clarified that Donald wanted to test himself wearing a football helmet and used team equipment at the Rams’ facility during training camp. However, he did not wear pads.

Head coach Sean McVay has remained optimistic about Donald’s future even though a deal has yet to be announced. Following Wednesday’s practice, McVay updated reporters about Donald. McVay told NFL’s Gregg Rosenthal and The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue:

Best tryout that we’ve ever had. I think [Aaron Donald] can make the team. That was, honestly, our way of being able to get a workout with him within the parameters of what’s necessary. But [defensive line coach] Giff Smith said it’s the greatest tryout he’s ever had.

Last month, Donald dropped by the Rams facility for a one-hour training session. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport later reported that Donald wanted to test how his body would react to team training sessions. However, Rapoport further added that Donald would likely sign with the team near the end of the camp. Moreover, he won’t play the entire four quarters. Instead, he would be involved in special packages.

The Rams play three preseason games against the Kansas City Chiefs, the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers. They kick off their 2026 campaign against rivals the San Francisco 49ers.

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