Jets EDGE McDonald pops up on injury report

There is “an internal debate” in the Jets’ organization between drafting Reese or Texas Tech EDGE David Bailey. Bailey, 22, is generally regarded as the draft’s top pass rusher and is knocked for his run defense. Reese is a complete player and is currently just 20 years old. Hughes notes that current Jets EDGE Will McDonald is a great pass rusher, but can be a liability in run defense. McDonald and Bailey would form a potent pass rush duo, but could be a suboptimal tandem against the run.

McDonald was taken No. 15 overall in the 2023 draft and is now eligible to have his fifth-year option picked up. In three seasons, McDonald has tallied 21.5 sacks, including back-to-back seasons of at least eight sacks. His option is expected to be around $14 million, making his contract for 2027 relatively light for a productive edge rusher. McDonald will head into year four with the Jets likely exploring extension talks to keep him long-term.

McDonald marked eight sacks in 15 games this year and continues to look like a solid building block pass rusher. The Jets will face a decision on whether they want to pick up his fifth-year option this offseason. With the season over in all but name, the Jets also sent LB Kiko Mauigoa (neck) and DL Jay Tufele (foot) to the injured reserve list.

Taylor has now missed three straight games as a result of his neck injury. The rookie tight end, who has caught 44 passes for 369 yards and one touchdown this season, will have one more chance to suit up for Week 18’s season finale against the Bills, but after missing three-straight weeks of practice, he could be a long shot for next week. In addition to Taylor the Jets also ruled out EDGE Will McDonald (knee), DL Jay Tufele (foot), and LB Kiko Mauigoa (neck) for Week 17.

Glenn did not provide McDonald’s current weight, but he is likely close to 260 pounds. He was listed at 245 pounds on the team website and tipped the scales at 239 pounds at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine. Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets coaches “believe it will make him a stronger edge setter against the run.” McDonald recorded team highs in both quarterback pressures (60) and sacks (10), but notched just 12 tackles in run defense, only one of which went for a loss or no gain.

McDonald (6'4/230) could have declared for the NFL draft and would be a high defensive prospect with his pass-rushing ability. He will go down as one of the best defensive players in the school’s history as he is the all-time sack leader and his 11.5 sack this year is a single-season record.

McDonald (6'4/230) spent the majority of his redshirt season serving as a defensive end on the scout team, meaning that he’ll now have to get used to not having his hand in the ground as often. But that isn’t expected to be an issue for the highly athletic defender, who made Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks” list. “It was watching this guy with elite athleticism and wondering where does he fit?” Iowa State HC Matt Campbell told Cyclone Fanatic at the Big 12 Media Days. “What’s coming back? How can we continue to evolve defensively? One of the things that I looked at with our defense was, what are some of the areas that we can get better at? How and where does this guy’s skillset allow us to get better? I thought it was a perfect match.” Iowa State’s defense is a big reason why the Cyclones were picked to finish third in the Big 12’s preseason poll, and if McDonald can live up to the hype that goal is certainly attainable.

We’ve written about McDonald a lot lately, as he’s been named both a breakout player and listed in the “Freak List” by The Athletic over the past couple of weeks. The plaudits continue. “You won’t find many weak spots in the ISU defense, but the Clones are counting on McDonald, a redshirt freshman, to take over for Willie Harvey,” they write. That’s a lot of pressure, but McDonald (6'4/230) certainly has the athleticism to at least be a partial contributor for the 2019 Iowa State club.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman leads off his annual “Freaks” list highlighting McDonald. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound redshirt freshman excelled in both basketball and track back during his high school days in Wisconsin, winning a state title in discus while placing third in the high jump. On the basketball court, he averaged 18.3 PPG and 12.8 RPG. He did not take up football until his junior year. Feldman colleague Max Olson tagged McDonald as a potential breakout player for the fall earlier this offseason.

“The breakout candidate here is clearly Will McDonald,” Olson writes. “The freaky 6-4, 230-pound pass-rusher was able to redshirt last year but showed flashes of his big potential in limited snaps, including a strip sack against TCU.” McDonald is likely to line up at the SAM position in the defense, and Jon Heacock can deploy him in numerous ways to get to the quarterback. We’re certainly intrigued.