LOS ANGELES -- Aaron Donald is probably already back at work in Pittsburgh, and it's late for him.

The day after his Los Angeles Rams finished a 4-12 season, Donald said he was going to try -- try -- to take two whole weeks off, as opposed to his customary one-week hiatus from training.

"I’m a little banged up right now," Donald said earlier this month. "Let some things heal. Get back to training, try to work a little harder this time."

Donald keeps searching for ways to get better, even though the window for improvement is minuscule.

On Tuesday, the analytical site Pro Football Focus named Donald the NFL's best defensive player, regardless of position, for the second consecutive year. His eight sacks may not jump off the page, but Donald led the NFL with 31 quarterback hits and was tied for the lead with 17 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus had him with 82 total pressures, five more than any interior defender and trailing only Khalil Mack, an edge rusher with the Oakland Raiders, for the NFL lead.

Donald, the 13th overall pick in 2014, was invited to his third consecutive Pro Bowl but pulled out of the game, opening a spot for Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph. Donald was recently named first-team All-Pro for the second year in a row, as was Rams punter Johnny Hekker. The Rams' new defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, will transition the Rams' defense to his "hybrid 3-4," but Donald will remain a three-technique.

He's two years away from free agency -- and may soon become the game's richest defensive player.

"You can always improve your game and try to do things better," Donald said right before beginning his offseason. "That’s the mindset; that’s what I’m going to do."