The New York Jets make Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald their 2023 first-round selection
With the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the New York Jets have selected Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald.
The Jets were left without a viable path to upgrading their offensive line, as the consensus top-four offensive tackle prospects had already gone off the board by the time New York came onto the clock at No. 15. The Steelers took the fourth of those, Georgia’s Broderick Jones, in the No. 14 slot after trading up for the pick, which was previously held by the Patriots. It turns out that the Jets’ pick swap with the Packers did indeed cost them an opportunity at one of the top tackle prospects, although it’s unclear whether the Jets would have liked Jones enough to select him.
Trading down was an option for New York, but the Jets decided to stay put and select McDonald. It was a surprising pick to fans and media members alike, as McDonald was generally not considered a candidate to be selected this early in the draft. On Mock Draft Database’s consensus big board, McDonald was ranked as the No. 33 overall prospect entering the draft.
There were some other intriguing options on the board for New York, the most notable of those being Ohio State wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Pittsburgh defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith were among the other available players.
McDonald is a 6-foot-3⅝, 239-pound speedster who is known for his bendiness around the edge. He has tremendous explosiveness that will fit seamlessly in the Jets’ defensive scheme, showcased by his 132-inch broad jump (98th percentile for EDGE). McDonald also possesses outstanding length, with arms measuring 34⅞ inches (90th percentile for EDGE).
McDonald will turn 24 years old later this year. He played five years at Iowa State, recording 34 sacks, 10 forced fumbles, and 40.5 tackles for loss in his career. McDonald had a down year in 2022, posting only 5.0 sacks and one forced fumble after totaling 11.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 2021.
McDonald joins a young and crowded Jets EDGE room that also features John Franklin-Myers, Carl Lawson, Jermaine Johnson (a first-round pick from 2022), Micheal Clemons, and Bryce Huff.
Maxx Crosby- pk 106
Amon Ra St Brown- pk 112
Tony Pollard pk 128
Stefon Diggs pk 146
Geo Kittle pk 146
Tariq Woolen pk 153
Aaron Jones pk 182
Jason Kelce pk 191
Just sayin’
Not much to be excited about here. They need to sign Quinnen Williams long term ASAP.
A bit of a head-scratcher and one of those picks we’ll hopefully learn to love in time. Since they used almost all their allotted time I assume they were looking for a trade down partner and couldn’t get anything they liked.
If we don’t get an OT tomorrow I’ll be surprised but you never know. I have faith in JD though so I’m just going to go with it.
This gives us six DEs so perhaps JFM plays inside more this year, where we need more talent anyway, Lawson is likely gone next year and who knows if we’ll be able to afford Huff’s next contract. I’m beginning to talk myself round already.
Apparently Lewin had a torn acl in September.
I wasn’t crazy about Jones buy another starter is needed.
Jets need to find a trade partner or free agent to add to the line. I would have preferred Kancey considering we’re overloaded at edge and linebacker is a need.
Maybe Lawson can be traded
If pressed I would have gone WR. Flowers over Njigba because he can play outside full time.
Get on the horn and sign LT Talyor Lewin.
There are still some OL in round 2. Not every starting OL in the NFL is a 1st round pick. Cody Mauch, Blake Freeland, Matt Bergeron, Tyler Steen all could be solid starters on the OL. They still my try to sign someone like Cam Flemming as a back up swing OT.
Personally, I have been saying for a bit, I don’t like this draft. When the 1st overall pick is a 5’10” 195lb QB, 2 RB’s are drafted in the top 12, and the first WR doesn’t come off the board until pick 20 it doesn’t say much for the overall talent. I like the pick, when in doubt take the best lineman. They feel it’s a DL, and they can always play JFM more in the middle at the other DT spot.
Douglas got played. It was bad enough he let Chris J insist, or he is dumb enough to concede a #2 or more likely #1 pick in next years’ draft without any protection that Rodgers plays more than one year. There was no need to sweeten the deal. Someone has no guts (or a little lower down) and they cost the Jets more years of inept OL play. Zach at the Atlantic and Cimini can try to justify this stupidity all they want. Probably the best thing that happens to the Jets is that our OL fails, Rodgers gets hurt before he plays 50% of our offensive plays, and Douglas who either is dumb or too stupid to stand up to Woody has to leave. Same old Jets. It is fitting the Pats traded out of the pick which would have come after ours for a team that took the last OT.
The Texans gave up pick 12, & 33 this year which is a 1st and the second pick of the 2nd round, a 1st in 2024 and a 3rd in 2024 for the ability to pick Will Anderson, and a 2023 4th round pick.
You don’t take the 4th best OT with top players at other positions still on the board. That’s reaching and how you go 12 years without a playoff spot.
The Jets didn’t give up too much for Rogers. There is/was no player at 13, 42, or 1st round pick next season that could add more to this team. It was more than a fair deal for Rogers. They basically gave up a 2nd and potential 1st, which if Rogers plays should be a late 1st at that….Douglas is the 1st GM the Jets have had since Parcells who knows what he is doing. I respectfully disagree.
I’m closer to ’71’ on his position here. The still slightly overrated D had no pass rush explosion last year. And haven’t had it in many years. If this kid, along with an improving Huff and a healthier Lawson can give them that, it was worth the pick. That’s how you get more turnovers. The OT rage was always overblown. They have at least 5 Tackle types on this roster who can play. Health is the main issue to overcome. As for the Rodgers compensation, the 2024 pick would have been preferrable with a playoff condition, but if Rodgers remains healthy and produces, it becomes a non-issue.
I also believe the D is slightly overrated. They gave up some big drives that also cost them games. It wasn’t all Zach. They struggle to get off the field, just look at their 3rd down percentage compared to the league. This guy could help them do that, and as I said there is time to draft a OL.
Getting AVT and Becton back is like adding 2, first round picks to the OL. AVT we know can play, Becton we have questions but have seen he can play at the NFL level. We can only project that any of those OT’s can play. Let’s see what happens tonight.