Braden Fiske on replacing Rams legend Aaron Donald: 'I have to create my own shoes'

There’s nothing like the anxiety of replacing a legend. Rams great Aaron Donald retired this offseason. And Los Angeles then used a second-round pick Braden Fiske, possibly the future star at defensive tackle.

No pressure, right? Donald was only a three-time winner of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year who made the Pro Bowl in each of his 10 seasons with the Rams.

“Big shoes to fill – we’re talking about the greatest ever,” Fiske said in a recent interview with Forbes. “I’ve said it countless times – it’s the G.O.A.T. 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 added. “I have to be me. I have to build my own legacy and that’s what I’m looking forward to. (And) 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.”

Rams’ first two draft picks were former Seminoles

The Rams leaned heavily on Florida State to rework their defense. They first selected edge rusher Jared Verse with the 19th pick of the first round. Then they traded up from 52 to 39 in the second round to take Fiske, who played his final collegiate season in a Seminole uniform. To get the rights to select Fiske, the Rams needed to send three draft picks (Nos. 52 and No. 155 along with a second rounder in 2025) to the Panthers. This was all after Donald announced his retirement in mid-March.

Now, the Rams aren’t solely relying on Fiske for production out of Donald’s former spot. Kobie Turner and Bobby Brown are there as well. Both are young tackles. Turner enjoyed an outstanding rookie season in 2023 with nine quarterback sacks. That was one better than Donald.

Fiske told Forbes that he planned to workout with Donald some before the Rams report to training camp July 23.

“I think I have a lot of room to grow,” Fiske said. “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.”