The RAMS Forum

arguing with my brother about Aaron Donald vs Lawrence Taylor

i can't fathom losing a game this year if AD99 was on this line

We are going to win 1 more without him. ;-)

AD is the best of all time, but he was starting to decline a little. I would feel better if we still had him but no guarantees. He may have helped us get through last year's Philly game.

therealheadslap75 wrote: ↑January 12th, 2026, 1:30 pm arguing with my brother about Aaron Donald vs Lawrence Taylor

i can't fathom losing a game this year if AD99 was on this line

I think the Secondary would still suck whether AD was playing or not. And it might be even worse than it is because of the cap implications from what we'd be paying him.
I'm glad they're not undefeated. Staying that way might have become the focus instead of winning the SB...

therealheadslap75 wrote: ↑January 12th, 2026, 1:30 pm arguing with my brother about Aaron Donald vs Lawrence Taylor

i can't fathom losing a game this year if AD99 was on this line

not taking anything away from AD but LT was the most dominant defensive player in the history of the NFL. he completely changed the position of OLB....completely unstoppable

Rampager66 wrote: ↑January 12th, 2026, 2:30 pm

therealheadslap75 wrote: ↑January 12th, 2026, 1:30 pm arguing with my brother about Aaron Donald vs Lawrence Taylor

i can't fathom losing a game this year if AD99 was on this line

I think the Secondary would still suck whether AD was playing or not. And it might be even worse than it is because of the cap implications from what we'd be paying him.
I'm glad they're not undefeated. Staying that way might have become the focus instead of winning the SB...

This!

AD would have made our defense more feared and more solid, but it would not have fixed our offense disappearing at times + horrible turnovers and special teams

AD has been retired for 4 seasons. I doubt he would have any impact at all on this team.

Its one thing if youre talking about just dropping AD into this team with no other consequences, but you have to ask the question. Who would NOT be on this team if you had to account for ADs salary?

Dont know if Adams would be on the team. Maybe not Ford, and maybe not Verse, or Fiske. But, maybe they would have drafted Dejean with AD on the team. Lots of moving parts there.

Are you assuming AD wouldn’t have declined by now?

This year I don't know but last year against Philly he could have made a difference and if the Rams win that game they probably beat Washington and have a great chance against KC beat up oline.

Letting Ernest Jones go at LB was also a mistake. If someone on Rams D makes a play on either of Barkleys long TD runs the Rams win that game.