Would Rams consider trading three-time Defensive Player of the Year?

If the Rams underwhelm again in 2023, would they trade three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald to kick-start a rebuild?

After winning Super Bowl LVI, Los Angeles went 5-12 last season — the worst record for a defending champion in league history. If the franchise continues to struggle, Dan Graziano of ESPN believes it could use the defensive tackle in a blockbuster deal that restocks the roster.

"If healthy, Donald could be the biggest trade deadline pickup in league history — if the Rams decide to see what they can get from him and if he's willing to leave," wrote Graziano. "Yes, a lot of ifs on this one, but keep an eye on it."

Donald would yield a massive market if the Rams placed him on the trading block. The 32-year-old is one of the best players in the NFL and a likely first-ballot Hall of Famer. In nine seasons, he's earned seven First-Team All-Pro nods, made the Hall of Fame's All-2010s Team and recorded 103 sacks, fifth among active players now that J.J. Watt announced his retirement.

It's unlikely that the Rams will bounce back into Super Bowl contention next season. Per OddsChecker, they have the second-worst odds of winning the NFC West. Trading Donald for several draft picks would make sense if their regression continues.

Los Angeles dealing the DT is unlikely, however, since general manager Les Snead isn't ready to tear the roster apart.

"To me, in a rebuild, you would just bulldoze the house down," Snead recently said, via Tyler Dragon of USA Today. "But when you have someone like QB Matthew Stafford, players like WR Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, there's still some weight-bearing walls that we still have, and we're going to rely on those."

Los Angeles still dealt CB Jalen Ramsey, a six-time Pro Bowler, to Miami this offseason, so it realizes it might have to move on from elite players to reboot the franchise.