Random Ramsdom: Aaron Donald ranks 2nd on NFL Top 100

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By Blane Dydasco@BlaneDydasco Aug 29, 2021, 8:05am CDT

Wild Card Round - Los Angeles Rams v Seattle Seahawks

The NFL Top 100 revealed the final ten players on this years list on Saturday. Los Angeles Rams DT Aaron Donald ranked 2nd behind only Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. After CB Jalen Ramsey was revealed as the 13th best player this year, Donald’s addition makes two Rams in the top 20.

Donald has made the list every year since entering the league in 2014. In 2015 he was ranked 92 and that was the last time he was placed outside the top 20. The reigning defensive player of the year has been ranked in the top 10 since 2018 and now in the top three for the last three years running. In 2019 Donald was ranked as the number one, best player in the NFL.

Last season Donald had 45 tackles and 13.5 sacks over 16 regular season games. He helped the Rams defense to achieve the mark as the leagues best unit in terms of overall yards and points allowed. The Rams made the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons.

Many of the players that collectively voted Donald as the second best player actually claim Donald as this years best player. The overall votes just had more in favor of Mahomes. His peers including but not limited to Trent Williams, Andrew Whitworth, Chase Young, and Devin White, all describe the attributes that have been attached to the seven time pro bowler for his entire career. Donald’s speed, explosiveness, strength, knowledge, and technique all despite his size creates problems for offenses especially since he plays so close to the ball and so central to the field. In his eighth season, Donald has his sights set on a return to the Superbowl and will start with the season opener against the Chicago Bears on September 12th.

And now for today’s links: