Since entering the league as the New York Jets’ first-round pick in 2023, Will McDonald has never been mistaken for a complete edge defender.
He hasn’t proven that he can be trusted against the run, having graded out as one of the league’s worst run-defending EDGEs in each of the last two seasons.
However, don’t get it twisted; he is a highly talented pass rusher, generating 18.5 sacks and 103 total pressures over the past two seasons. While his limitations make him tough to fit into the defense in certain situations, it also makes his usage simple.
When McDonald is on the field, he should be out there to do what he does best: get after the passer.
Yes, that type of role would limit his snap count, but the reality is that he can’t be trusted against the run. Instead of trying to use him in a role he can’t fit, the Jets should acknowledge his strengths and weaknesses.
Instead, though, as the Jets’ new-look defense under Aaron Glenn takes shape, he could be asked to take on an additional responsibility: dropping into coverage.
“It’s pretty cool,” McDonald told the Jets’ official website regarding playing OLB and dropping back into coverage. “I’ve always wanted to drop into coverage, get a couple picks here and there, bat balls. It’s a little different switch-up, but I think I’ll do just fine doing that. You know, different scheme and everything, I feel like it’s coming along pretty well.”
Playing OLB is a responsibility for EDGEs in 3-4 packages, which we will likely see from the Jets this year, as they are expected to be “multiple,” according to head coach and defensive play-caller Aaron Glenn.
The Jets have already been experimenting with this in the preseason, as McDonald dropped into coverage on two of his 21 snaps over the first two games.
Making that a consistent part of McDonald’s responsibility would be a mistake for the Jets.
His bread and butter has always been his overall explosiveness off the edge, with a strong first step and great bend. Any time the Jets have McDonald drop back rather than use that explosiveness to pursue the quarterback is a waste of his abilities.
Of course, there is a benefit to dropping the edge defender into coverage. It helps the defense to disguise its look and create ambiguity for the offense before the snap.
However, there is a difference between occasionally dropping McDonald to disguise a blitz and making coverage one of his main responsibilities.
There are multiple concerns with making coverage part of McDonald’s role. First, it’s not an area where he has much experience.
He played just 18 coverage snaps for New York in 2025 and allowed both targets in his direction to be completed for 20 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. For his NFL career, McDonald has played just 38 coverage snaps.
Also, he has historically struggled with tackling. In each of the past two seasons, McDonald posted a missed tackle rate over 29%, including a 34.4% mark in 2024, the fourth-highest among 104 qualified EDGEs (minimum 300 snaps).
That doesn’t suggest he should be asked to make tackles on skill-position players in the open field.
Dropping him occasionally is understandable, but the Jets must be selective and not make it a consistent part of his role unless he surprises everyone in his first opportunities.
Not only do the Jets have to work around the tackling issues and the lack of experience whenever McDonald drops, but they also lose one of their top pass rushers. Having McDonald drift into coverage would leave a less effective pass rusher trying to generate pressure off the edge.
The Jets have multiple ways to work around that concern.
They can rush McDonald and drop the opposite outside linebacker, most likely a more complete player like Kingsley Enagbare or Joseph Ossai, who have both played over twice as many career coverage snaps as McDonald. They could also send both EDGEs in five-man pressure situations or stick to using him as a traditional DE in passing situations, with the latter appearing as the strongest idea.
The good news is that, with well-rounded players in Enagbare and Ossai now in the room, the Jets shouldn’t need to rely on McDonald to drop into coverage as much as he would have needed to with less complete players.
As he enters his fourth season in the NFL, the Jets should understand exactly who McDonald is: a very talented pass rusher with significant limitations in other areas.
Those limitations should affect his playing time and the situations in which he is on the field. When he is out there, the Jets should let him do what he does best: get after the quarterback.
