Mike Florio#15 of 87 NFL pundits · Aug 30, 2026
Florio speculates about the mechanics of an Aaron Donald unretirement with the Rams, noting the Rams would need to restructure their $30 million deal and that, in a slim-but-possible scenario, Donald could be released and sign elsewhere. They also expect the Rams to extend Puka Nacua.
Published in writing · NBC SportsRead the original
What Mike Florio said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromDonald could potentially (and the chances are slim but not zero percent) make his comeback with another contender that is willing to pay him considerably more than the Rams would offer.
- Where it was published
- NBC Sports
- The piece
- Aaron Donald's contract looms over his potential return
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams“Donald could be released by the Rams if he won’t relent on his $30 million — and then become a free agent. ... Donald could potentially (and the chances are slim but not zero percent) make his comeback with another contender that is willing to pay him considerably more than the Rams would offer.”
- 2Puka Nacua to sign a new deal with Los Angeles Rams“Receiver Puka Nacua, who clearly deserves a new deal, will eat up more of that money if/when the Rams extend a low-money rookie contract that expires after the coming season.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams1 | Trade and Signing Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Puka Nacua to sign a new deal with Los Angeles Rams2 | Contract Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| 2 calls · 2 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
2 checkable claims — 1 contract call and 1 trade and signing call — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 3 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
1Trade and Signing CallsAaron DonaldLos Angeles Rams
Aaron Donald to move to Los Angeles Rams
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Contract CallsPuka NacuaLos Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua to sign a new deal with Los Angeles Rams
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd predicts Matt Stafford stays with the Rams rather than moving on, and says Travis Hunter may underachieve because they're being asked to play both ways — Cowherd doubts they're a No. 1 receiver and would slot them as a No. 2 receiver while being a No. 1 corner.Colin Cowherd · Trade and Signing Calls · Matthew Stafford · Hit 100
Cowherd believes Matt Stafford's public negotiation posturing means he ultimately stays in Los Angeles, and he flags Travis Hunter as a high draft pick who could underachieve because trying to play both cornerback and receiver full-time will hurt him.Chris Simms · Score Predictions · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 93
Simms gave a predicted final score for every Week 9 game, picking the Bengals, Chiefs, Broncos, Lions, Giants, Rams, Cowboys, Saints, 49ers, Patriots, Seahawks, Texans, Bears and Bills, and also said they wouldn't be shocked to see Jacksonville reach the AFC Championship Game.Connor Rogers · Game Outcome Picks · Los Angeles Rams · Hit 100
Rogers picked straight-up winners in every Week 9 game, agreeing with Simms on all of them, and gave a 24-20 Bills score over the Vikings on Monday night.
More contract calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Adam Schefter · Contract Calls · Dallas Goedert · Waiting
Schefter wrote that Dallas Goedert stays in Philadelphia after the deadline and could even re-sign with the Eagles for 2027.Spencer German · Contract Calls · Jared Verse · Waiting
Picked Houston to beat Cleveland in Week 10 by a final score of 24-20, expecting a one-score game decided by the Texans' pass rush overwhelming a struggling Browns offensive line. Also suggested that a strong second half from Jared Verse would lead the Browns to pick up the fifth-year option.John Middlekauff · Contract Calls · C.J. Stroud · Waiting
Middlekauff previewed Week 11, projecting the Commanders to finish with six or seven wins and the Giants with eight or nine, naming four AFC teams as playoff locks, and picking the Chiefs, Texans, Steelers and 49ers to win their games. Also predicted a top-15 draft slot for Charlie Becker and an eventual big contract for C.J. Stroud if the Texans finish strong.Tom Pelissero · Contract Calls · C.J. Stroud · Waiting
Pelissero picked the Jaguars as the AFC team to like most, said Lamar Jackson will not be cut or traded by Baltimore, and argued C.J. Stroud is heading for a contract that would make him the league's highest-paid quarterback at around $65 million per year.Nate Gosney · Contract Calls · Daiyan Henley · Waiting
After the Broncos rescinded the trade, Gosney expects Daiyan Henley to remain with the Chargers for the rest of the 2026 season, but believes the awkward fallout has effectively killed any chance of them signing a new contract with Los Angeles after the season.