Aaron Donald

DT · Los Angeles Rams vs Denver Broncos · 36 graded snaps

Solid

Donald delivered an efficient, mistake-free performance, routinely collapsing Denver's interior pocket and anchoring against the run without logging a single negative snap.

Pass rush6926Run defense7010

The full breakdown

Donald earned a solid 71.4 grade by remaining disciplined across 36 snaps with zero negative plays. In run defense, he controlled the interior against zone concepts, highlighted by stringing out a combo block at Q1 10:58 and shedding Ben Powers for a stop at Q2 02:16. His pass rush was headlined by an explosive inside move past Powers at Q3 14:12 to hit Bo Nix on third down, while his steady pocket push created opportunities for teammates throughout the game.

Strengths

Interior pocket push
Zero negative snaps
Gap control vs. zone

Plays that moved the grade

+1.5Q3 14:12, 3rd & 4Exploded off the snap and beat left guard Ben Powers with an inside move to hit Bo Nix upon release and force an incompletion.
+1Q2 02:16, 2nd & 6Shed Ben Powers inward to combine on a tackle of J.K. Dobbins after a short interior gain.
+0.5Q1 10:58, 1st & 10Fought through an interior combo block to maintain gap leverage and help string out an outside zone run for a loss.

Every graded snap · 8 wins or losses, 29 routine

+0.5Q1 10:58 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFought through interior combo block, maintaining gap integrity and stringing out the horizontal flow.
+0.5Q1 09:43 · 3 & 6 · Pass rushDrives the left guard back into the pocket, collapsing Nix's interior room to step up.
+0.5Q1 02:04 · 2 & 10 · Run defenseFights through Quinn Meinerz's block to squeeze the interior lane and limit cutback space.
+1Q2 02:16 · 2 & 6 · Run defenseEngages LG Ben Powers, sheds inward, and assists Kobie Turner in wrapping up Dobbins after a short gain.
+0.5Q2 02:00 · 3 & 2 · Pass rushEngages Ben Powers and drives into the interior pocket to command attention and keep the A-gap open for the blitz.
+1.5Q3 14:12 · 3 & 4 · Pass rushExplodes off the ball, quickly discards LG Ben Powers with an inside move, and hits Nix right as he releases, directly blowing up the play.
+0.5Q3 09:56 · 1 & 10 · Pass rushPushes the pocket against Meinerz and disengages to pursue the scrambling quarterback.

Aaron Donald's season grades →