How much does Aaron Donald weigh in comparison to other superstar DTs in the NFL?

Aaron Donald will be a Hall of Famer when he finally calls time on his career. He is only 31 years old but his accomplishments are already legendary. He has won the Defensive Player of the Year award 3 times, tying with Lawrence Taylor and J.J. Watt before him.

He has been in the NFL since 2014 and has made it to the Pro Bowl every year. Except his rookie year, he has been named to the All-Pro First Team as well every season.

Aaron Donald's achievements are already monumental and is arguably the greatest defensive tackle to ever play the game, given Lawrence Taylor was a linebacker and J.J. Watt is a defensive end. His frame might not be the biggest as he stands at only 6'1" tall, but he sure packs a great bulk into it, making full use of his 280 lbs weight.

But how does Aaron Donald compare to other top defensive tackles in the game today? Let's take a look below.

Aaron Donald compared to other DTs in the NFL today

#1 - Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers, 295 lbs

Cameron Heyward has been a solid performer for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But he has really shined since the 2017 season, from when he has made it to five straight Pro Bowls.

He measures 6'5" and weighs 295 lbs, which is lean for his frame. He is an imposing defensive tackle and part of a defensive unit that has often bailed out the Steelers when their offense has struggled.

Since Ben Roethlisberger retired and rookie starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett took his place, this has happened with increasing frequency. However, Heyward has stood tall among all the mayhem.

#2 - Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, 298 lbs

Chris Jones fell all the way to the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but when he did, the Kansas City Chiefs were glad to snap him up. He has more than lived up to expectations since then, making it to three Pro Bowls and holding the record for most consecutive games with a sack at 11. He was also a part of the Super Bowl LIV winning team.

Measuring 6'6" and weighing 298 lbs, he is a prototype defensive tackle and has made great use of his height and build in his professional career so far.

#3 - DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts, 295 lbs

DeForest Buckner was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 2016 NFL Draft in the first round as the seventh pick overall. He has since justified his billing. He has been selected to two Pro Bowls, one each with the 49ers, and his current team, the Indianapolis Colts.

He measures as 6'7" and weighs 295 lbs. With the perfect size and build for a defensive tackle, he has made more than good use of it.

#4 - Vita Vea, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 347 lbs

Vita Vea was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2018 NFL Draft as the 12th pick overall. He has since shown why he is such an important performer in the team. He won Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers and was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season.

He is 6'4" tall and a mammoth 347 lbs. His combination of height and extreme strength has made him a trusted veteran even at this young age.

#5 - Jonathan Allen, Washington Commanders, 300 lbs

Another first-round selection in the NFL Draft, Jonathan Allen was drafted by the Washington franchise in the 2017 NFL Draft as the 17th pick overall. Despite all the upheavals off the field with the Commanders and disappointing performances on it, he has been a solid performer.

He is 6'3" tall and weighs 300 lbs. Last season, he made it to his first ever Pro Bowl and was one of the few bright spots on the team.

Comparing Aaron Donald to all these premier defensive tackles, one thing becomes clear. He is not your prototypical defensive tackle.

All others on this list weigh 295 lbs or more, a full 15 lbs more than Aaron Donald. Additionally, his height of just over 6" is much lesser than other defensive tackles.

So, how does Aaron Donald remain the best defensive tackle in the league, who is just coming off his first Super Bowl win last season?

The secret to his success is how he uses these supposed drawbacks to his advantage. His lesser height allows him a lower center of gravity that makes him fast off the snap and gives him natural leverage.

Meanwhile, his lower weight translates into higher speeds and acceleration. He ran a scarcely believable 4.68 second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Beyond his physical traits, Aaron Donald is also a natural leader who brings authority to the team. So, despite weighing in less than most defensive tackles, he is the standard all of them aspire to.