Los Angeles Rams’ Braden Fiske On Plugging Void After Aaron Donald’s Retirement: ‘Big Shoes To Fill’
Los Angeles Rams defensive lineman Braden Fiske wants to carve out his own legacy as he begins his NFL career.
The 24-year-old rookie will enter the season with high expectations as a high second-round draft pick. The former Florida State defensive tackle – who made headlines due to his standout performance at the NFL Combine – was selected with the 39th overall pick after the Rams traded up from the 52nd pick to draft him. Los Angeles parted ways with their No. 52 and No. 155 picks in the draft and a 2025 second-round pick in order to select Fiske – which obviously shows how much they valued him.
Not only does Fiske have to live up to that trade value, he's also tasked – along with second-year man Kobie Turner and 23-year-old Bobby Brown – in replacing the recently retired Aaron Donald, who is considered the best defensive lineman of his generation. Donald won Defensive Player of the Year a record three times, went to the Pro Bowl during all 10 of his years in the league and was named an eight-time First-Team All-Pro selection.
Although there are big shoes to fill, Fiske isn't too worried about the pressure and expectations that comes along with replacing the G.O.A.T.
"Big shoes to fill – we're talking about the greatest ever. I've said it countless times – it's the G.O.A.T," says Fiske of Donald in an exclusive one-on-one interview. "I full-heartedly feel that way about him and we've had small conversations — that's been cool. It is what it is. I don't think you ever replace the G.O.A.T. I have to go out there and do what I do."
Fiske makes sure to stress that he can't be worried about filling Donald's shoes – he has to go out there and create his own legacy.
"I have to be me," says Fiske. "I have to build my own legacy and that's what I'm looking forward to. I don't feel like I'm really filling shoes, but I have to create my own shoes. That's kind of what it is. I'm just excited to be a part of it and I know that'll kind of always be the comparison of who's going to fill his shoes, but somebody has to do it."
The 6-foot-4 Fiske isn't quite the sack artist that Donald is, but he's notable because of his high motor and his quickness. What Fiske lacks in body mass – he entered the draft at 292 pounds – he makes up for with his ability to fly to the ball carrier. Fiske's career high in sacks during a single season is six sacks. By comparison, Donald registered 20.5 sacks during the 2018 season and once racked up at least 12.5 sacks in four consecutive seasons.
While Fiske probably won't be replicating Donald's numbers, he can certainly help fill the void by showing off his own strengths on the Rams' young defensive line.
Both Fiske and Donald have actually been in contact with each other since the draft. And while they haven't had overly long conversations, they plan to work out together just before the start of training camp on July 23
"Not really noteworthy advice," says Fiske of his conversations so far with Donald. "We're just going to get some workouts in during the next couple of weeks before training camp, so that'll be cool."
There's certainly no shortage of confidence coming from Fiske, who says he's even more confident in his "ceiling" compared to before he was drafted after participating in OTAs.
"Honestly, just get better," says Fiske of his objectives entering his rookie season. "I think I have a lot of room to grow. I think my ceiling is even higher than I thought it was coming out of college. Once you get out here and work with the pros, you see where you can elevate your game to. You're kind of comparing it to guys around you, I just see that the ceiling is even higher than I think I even realized it would. Just see where I can take this game and see how I can build this career. No flat-out objectives from Day 1, other than get better. Like I said, I'm grateful to be a part of this. I'm just excited to see how I can grow in the next year."
And although Fiske is expected to start at defensive end in the Rams' 3-4 defensive alignment, he says that he still needs to earn his spot in training camp.
"There's still a lot to be earned," says Fiske. "We still have to go through training camp and earn the positions."