New year, new Will McDonald.
A fresh jersey number is not the only change for the New York Jets’ third-year edge rusher. Speaking to the media after Wednesday’s OTA practice, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn revealed that McDonald has put on some significant muscle since the end of the 2024 season.
“He’s a dynamic athlete for a guy in his stature,” Glenn said of McDonald. “I think he’s like 6’4, 240. He actually weighed in more than that, because he’s gained about 15 pounds.”
McDonald was listed at 236 pounds entering the 2024 season. A 15-pound gain would put him at around 251 pounds.
It is a critical improvement for McDonald, who was the third-lightest defensive lineman to appear in an NFL game last season. His thin frame made him a liability in the run game, where tackles and tight ends pushed him around with ease.
McDonald finished the year with a 39.5 run defense grade at Pro Football Focus, ranked last among 105 qualified edge rushers (min. 300 snaps). He also ranked last with a 1.3-to-1 ratio of run stops to missed tackles (position average: 3.9-to-1).
A bulkier frame would improve McDonald’s ability to hold his ground on the edge. Glenn touched on this in his press conference.
“[The weight gain] is very good for him, because it allows him to be able to set an edge a lot better,” Glenn said.
While the Jets’ first-year head coach acknowledged McDonald’s room for improvement as a run defender, he raved about the Iowa State product’s pass-rush skill set.
“He has really long arms. Again, I already said it, but [a] dynamic athlete. He is a guy that has a skill set as far as rushing the passer that, I haven’t been around a lot of guys just in my coaching tenure like what we have with him.
“I’m going to enjoy seeing exactly what he’s going to be able to do with us. And we’re going to let him go. We’re going to let him loose. We’re going to let him go get the passer. That’s what he does best. So, I’m just looking forward to when he gets the pads on, and when you can just put him in live action, see what he can really do.”
McDonald concluded his second NFL season with 61 total pressures (T-13th among EDGE) and 10.5 sacks (T-11th). He was one of just seven edge rushers to post 60+ total pressures and 10+ sacks:
- Myles Garrett
- Will McDonald
- Micah Parsons
- Danielle Hunter
- Jonathon Cooper
- Trey Hendrickson
- Jonathan Greenard
In his third season, McDonald aims to join the NFL’s top tier as a pass rusher while bringing his run defense up to at least a competent level. The latter will be much more achievable with his bulked-up frame.
I’ll believe it when I see it. Everyone touts his performance last year, but he disappeared after game 6. 8 of his sacks came in the first 5 games and most were not actually created by him. He was a welcome mat against the run, and I don’t see him as a 3 down DE at all. He’s a situational pass-rusher, end of story.