When discussing New York Jets entering make-or-break seasons this year, edge rusher Will McDonald was at the top of the list.

From 2024-25, he had combined for 18.5 sacks, including a double-digit sack year in 2024. McDonald’s pass-rushing tools were well known; however, his capabilities beyond that, especially as a run defender, were questionable.

Now, four games into the season, his start has left a lot to be desired, even in the area where he has historically thrived: pass rushing.

McDonald’s sluggish start to 2026

One of the most interesting tidbits beyond McDonald’s 2025 campaign was his inconsistency. He finished the year with 42 pressures and eight sacks, but those sacks came in just four games out of the 15 he played, and six of them came over two weeks.

His sack total dropped from 10.5 in 2024, which isn’t the end of the world, but the inconsistency really stood out. Meanwhile, in 2025, he had sacks in seven of his 17 games.

Throughout four games, he has followed a similar trend in 2026. After a killer outing in Week 1, generating five pressures and a sack on just 18 pass-rushing snaps, McDonald has generated just four total pressures and zero sacks on 51 pass-rushing snaps in the past three weeks. That comes out to a pressure rate of just 7.8%.

Over the past three weeks, McDonald has logged nearly three times as many pass-rushing snaps as in Week 1, yet he has generated just four total pressures. That is a significant drop-off for someone expected to play a huge role in the Jets’ defensive line, especially on the edge.

Obviously, it would be ridiculous to expect his Week 1 production every week. Even for the top pass rushers around the league, sacks and pressures can fluctuate. However, just four pressures across three games is inexcusable.

It’s important to note, though, that much of the Jets’ edge room was silent in Sunday’s brutal loss to the Chicago Bears. McDonald led the Jets with three total pressures (per Pro Football Focus), but he failed to record any sacks or hits. David Bailey was the only other Jets edge rusher with any pressures, recording just one. Without Kingsley Enagbare, the Jets struggled mightily to create separation off the edge.

While it’s very fair to expect more from Bailey, the No. 2 overall pick, McDonald certainly needs to be better, too, especially as the veteran in the position room. There is really no full excuse for McDonald’s shortcomings over the past few weeks.

The opportunities have been there for him; he just hasn’t been able to take advantage of them. Over the next few weeks, McDonald’s future with the organization will also come into question.

Teams are gearing up for Week 5, and the NFL’s trade deadline is already just five weeks away. While the Jets picked up McDonald’s fifth-year option for 2027, the team has not made a long-term commitment to him.

Five weeks isn’t right around the corner, but it’s approaching fast. Is it worth trading McDonald? What is his value? Is he a long-term piece? The Jets will be forced to answer those questions over the next few weeks.

Even if the Jets aren’t fully sold on McDonald, this is his year to audition to the NFL. He is under team control for 2027, but it’s fair to assume he wants a multi-year contract entering next year, money aside.

Consistency is everything for McDonald, especially as a player who struggles as a run defender, and it just hasn’t been there for him over the past three weeks. This also isn’t the first time it’s happened.