Despite questions about his size, strength, and run defense, the New York Jets used a top-15 pick on Will McDonald because of his pass-rush ceiling. And in his second NFL season, McDonald took a massive leap toward reaching that ceiling. McDonald finished 2024 tied for 11th among edge rushers in sacks (10.5) and 13th in …
Will McDonald put together the Year 2 pass-rush breakout that New York Jets fans hoped for. After posting three sacks on minimal reps in his rookie year, McDonald translated that production to a much larger role in 2024. With his defensive snap count skyrocketing from 184 to 758, McDonald posted 10.5 sacks. Even with a …
Entering the New York Jets’ Week 13 game against the Atlanta Falcons, third-year edge rusher Will McDonald was among the top subjects of our coverage here at Jets X-Factor. McDonald was coming off a cold two-game stretch, punctuating an underwhelming 2025 campaign for the Iowa State product after his breakout year in 2024. As McDonald …
Aaron Rodgers this, Aaron Rodgers that. It’s all the media will talk about over the next eight days. But to those who love ball more than storylines, this much-anticipated season opener is truly about the young stars in the trenches. When the New York Jets take the field against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon, …
When the New York Jets drafted Will McDonald, it essentially spelled the end of Bryce Huff’s tenure in New York. It also ushered in a pressure-packed second year for McDonald when he would be expected to fill Huff’s shoes. The loss of John Franklin-Myers and Haason Reddick’s holdout further accelerated that spotlight. To the outside …
What are the New York Jets getting in Will McDonald? On Thursday night, the New York Jets showed an immense amount of faith in Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald by selecting him with the 15th overall pick of the NFL draft. It was a surprising selection primarily because the Jets already had a strong …
Third-year edge rusher Will McDonald was a popular name on the trade deadline rumor mill. The New York Jets ultimately decided to keep him. When McDonald followed up the trade buzz with a four-sack performance in his next game, leading New York to a win over the Cleveland Browns, it seemed as if the Jets’ …
New York Jets have to replace a massive chunk of production on defense It’s been an undeniably stellar offseason for the New York Jets. Through free agency, the trade market, and the draft, general manager Joe Douglas aggressively attacked all of the issues that plagued an abysmal offense in 2023. Provided they stay healthy, the …
In the blink of an eye, 244 days have passed since the New York Jets last played a professional football game that counts. After a treacherous voyage through the offseason, mired in endless deliberation, analysis, and projection, we can finally see the light from ashore. Before we pull into the docks of another Jets season, …
On Wednesday, we highlighted the diminishing production of New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald compared to his impressive 2024 season. McDonald currently ranks 40th among edge rushers with just 28 total pressures (2.5 per game), a far cry from his previous campaign, when he finished 13th at the position with 61 total pressures (3.6 …