IRVINE, Calif. (AP) - Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay said the team has increased its “level of urgency” in negotiations with defensive end Aaron Donald.
Donald, a three-time first-team All-Pro, is holding out of training camp for the second consecutive year as he seeks a contract extension. His rookie contract will end after this season, but because he didn’t report by Wednesday, he will be a restricted free agent after the season instead of an unrestricted free agent. The Rams could also use the franchise tag on Donald, who is set to make $6.9 million this season.
“Let’s put it this way, there’s an increased dialogue,” McVay said Saturday. “We feel positive about the direction that these things are going. But it’s still kind of in the same boat, but I know there is a huge level of urgency from our side in terms of how important he is, wanting to be proactive about trying to find a solution, get this thing done and we’ll see if we can get that situation handled.”
General manager Les Snead said Wednesday that the Rams and Donald, the 2017 defensive player of the year, are in the “same ZIP code, area code, ballpark” regarding a contract extension.
Donald has recorded at least eight sacks in each of his four seasons with the Rams, including 11 last season, when he missed all of training camp and reported the day before their season opener.
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