Legendary defensive lineman Aaron Donald has garnered significant attention for the 2026 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award, holding +800 odds after completing an official workout with the Los Angeles Rams. This comes despite the 35-year-old's two-year absence from the NFL.
Sports bettors appear confident in Donald's ability to return to his dominant form. His current odds place him fourth in contention for the award. He trails three quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs (+185), Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders (+425), and Kyler Murray of the Minnesota Vikings (+550).
Mahomes is working his way back from an ACL and LCL tear sustained last December. Daniels also missed a significant portion of the previous season due to injuries, while Murray was sidelined for the final 12 games with a foot injury.
Donald, who has spent his entire career as a defensive force, has a history of pressuring quarterbacks, including strip-sacking Mahomes twice. His pursuit of the Comeback Player of the Year award could challenge Mahomes's frontrunner status if Donald proves that his time away has rejuvenated him and made him a formidable presence on the Rams' defensive line once more.
Should Donald officially re-join the Rams, his odds for the award are expected to increase further.