The Jets added more pass-rush help to their repertoire with the selection of Iowa State edge-defender Will McDonald IV with the 15th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.
McDonald is considered one of the better athletes on the edge and a player with a lot of pass-rush tools. He also brings plenty of production in college with him. In 54 career games with the Cyclones, McDonald recorded 34 career sacks and 42 tackles for a loss, including double-digits in both categories in 2020 and 2021. Those 34 sacks are the most in Iowa State history and tied for the all-time lead in Big 12 history. McDonald also had himself a very nice week in Mobile, Alabama at the Senior Bowl.
McDonald has the opportunity to add plenty of juice for the Jets getting after the quarterback and gives the Jets plenty of options on the edge. The Jets can now unleash Bryce Huff, Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers, Micheal Clemons and McDonald.
The pick of McDonald here at 15 is a little surprising, but the Jets had to pivot a bit after seeing four offensive tackles come off the board. Paris Johnson went No. 6 to Arizona, Darnell Wright No. 10 to Chicago, Peter Skoronski No. 11 to Tennessee and Broderick Jones No. 14 to Pittsburgh. So the Jets flip to defense. The Jets want to get after Josh Allen and Tua Tagovailoa in the division and McDonald gives them another way to do just that.
