Rams COO Demoff: 'We don't agree' on DT Donald's value
With defensive tackle Aaron Donald more than a week into his second consecutive training camp holdout, Los Angeles Rams COO Kevin Demoff updated contract talks between the two sides.
Speaking Wednesday on Mighty 1090 AM in San Diego, Demoff described talks as "truly a spirited conversation" that he thinks will "ultimately wind up in a productive place."
"I don't think they're unrealistic," Demoff said of Donald's representatives. "I think they see their client at a certain point that they value at, we see it at a different point. To me, that doesn't mean one side is right or wrong. I think that's the worst thing you can say in negotiations.
"We don't agree, but that doesn't make us right and them wrong. It doesn't make them right and us wrong. We just don't agree. And hopefully we can find that magic bullet to go get there and agree."
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Donald is very likely seeking to become the highest-paid defender in league history, but it's unclear how much of a gap remains between the two sides in negotiations.
The MMQB's Albert Breer reported last week that part of the holdup in new deals for Donald and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack is the widening gap between contracts for quarterbacks and those of defensive players, a gap Donald and Mack are hoping to close.
When the NFL's current highest-paid defender, Von Miller, signed for just over $19 million annually in July of 2016, Andrew Luck was the league's highest-paid player at $23.3 million annually. More than two years later, Miller's contract remains the standard for defensive players, while six quarterbacks have topped Luck's mark, led by Matt Ryan's $30 million annually.
The Rams have been able to reach deals with other core players recently, extending both wideout Brandin Cooks and running back Todd Gurley in a span of a week before training camp opened. They still expect to keep Donald long-term, but it's unclear when a deal might happen.
"We'll keep working at it, but I enjoy talking to them," Demoff said. "This isn't contentious, this isn't personal. We just have to find the right deal to reward Aaron for the special player he is."
Donald, 27, has made the Pro Bowl in each of his four seasons and has three first-team All-Pro nods. He made just over $10.1 million from 2014-17 and is due $6.9 million this season, the fifth-year option of his rookie deal.
--Field Level Media
