Rams Star Aaron Donald Named to AP All-Pro Team, Joins Young Phenoms Puka & Kyren
The Los Angeles Rams were one of the hottest teams in the NFL to end the season, and that was due in no small part to the team's stars and young playmakers.
The Associated Press All-Pro teams were recently released, and the Rams had players on both the first and second teams. Aaron Donald was one of the two defensive tackles selected for the first team, and Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams were selected for the second team.
Jeffrey Becker, USA TODAY
Williams came in at running back when the team parted ways with Cam Akers, and he did not disappoint. Despite him playing in just 12 of the team's games due to injury, the second-year man finished with 1144 rushing yards, placing him only behind Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey. If he can continue to play like this, the Rams might have a franchise back on their hands.
As for Nacua, he broke the rookie record for both receptions and receiving yards in a season this past Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers and was one of the best wide receivers in the league this season.
He finished with 1486 receiving yards, which ranked him at fourth in the entire league, and was also top-10 in receptions. Judging by the fact that the Rams got both Williams and Nacua in the fifth round, many would say that they got some pretty good value picks.
And for Aaron Donald, this All-Pro selection puts him in some very talented company. This marked Donald's eighth time being selected for the first team, which ties him for the most by any defensive player ever with Lawrence Taylor, Reggie White, and Bruce Smith. Being tied with these legends further solidifies Donald's case for the Hall of Fame, and 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes that his talent combined with the rest of the roster makes the Rams a dangerous team in the playoffs.
"Where they've improved the most is how much their run game's going. It's as good as any run game in this league. You put those together with that type of quarterback... When you have a generational player out there with Aaron Donald, with what they're doing on the other side, that gives them a chance to be just as dangerous as anyone in this league," Shanahan recently told reporters.
The Rams will get a chance to show how dangerous they are in the first round against the Detroit Lions. Kickoff is set for primetime on Sunday Night Football at 5:15 pm PT at Ford Field.
