The Jets were rumored to select an offensive tackle during the first round of Thursday’s NFL Draft.
But once all of the top tackles were off the board at No. 15, they pivoted to the defensive side of the ball.
Gang Green surprised some by choosing Iowa State defensive end Will McDonald IV to add to their unit that finished fourth in the NFL in points and yards allowed last year.
Last season for the Cyclones, McDonald was a first-team All-Big 12 selection after he finished with 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 12 games. During the 2021 season, McDonald recorded 36 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks.
“I’m going to bring everything that I can,” McDonald said. “No matter if that’s playing on special teams, being a role player, just doing whatever I gotta do.
“A lot of things I learned at Iowa State, a lot of disciplined, a lot of poise, learned on making the right decisions, being around good teammates. Just following the pack and doing whatever I can do.”
Last season for the Cyclones, McDonald was a first-team All-Big 12 selection after he finished with 36 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in 12 games. During the 2021 season, McDonald recorded 36 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks as he was named the 2021 co-Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year.
He ended his career at Iowa State with 125 tackles, 40.5 tackles for loss and 34 sacks. McDonald met with the Jets during the Senior Bowl in late January, as he was one of the best players in Mobile that week. He often displayed his length and speed throughout practices to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
“I was just watching NFL players and just mixing it in,” McDonald said. “Watching Von Miller, Aaron Donald, Max Crosby, just watching all of them and just replicating everything and just putting my own sauce on it.
“I just worked every day after practice and it finally paid off.”
Although it was a surprise that the Jets selected McDonald at No. 15, he has all the tools to be an effective pass rusher at the next level. He has excellent explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and his high motor and pass-rushing skills make it difficult for offensive tackles to get their hands on him. He also has a quick burst that usually gives him an advantage over bigger offensive tackles.
“He was one of those dynamic, if not the most dynamic pass rusher in this draft,” Jets general manager Joe Douglas said. “Great combination of skill and production and athleticism.
“Fired up to add him to a strong unit.”
At 6-4, 239 pounds, McDonald is small for NFL defensive end standards. However, he has the body mass to put on more weight once he gets into the Jets facility.
One aspect that will benefit the Jets is McDonald’s versatility, as he played as a pass rusher and inside as a defensive tackle last year. That’s a big reason his sack numbers were down from the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
“He is going to have to work with bring power and bring leverage, Jets coach Robert Saleh said. “He did a lot of it.
“If you look at his Iowa State tape, he played a lot of four high [defensive end] against offensive tackles, so he has the power to extend in there. Just learning our techniques, our stance, our alignment, the rules in which we play and the get-off.
“Not overly concerned about him learning all of that stuff. Just to add an elite pass rusher because, at the end of the day, getting the quarterback to the ground is a premium. When you’re sitting there at pick 15 and you have your best pass rusher staring you in the face, you feel like it’s an easy decision.”
The Jets were initially scheduled to pick at No. 13 but exchanged picks with the Packers in the trade that brought Aaron Rodgers to New York. That likely cost Gang Green a chance to draft an offensive lineman as the Patriots traded the No. 14 pick to the Steelers. Pittsburgh then selected Georgia tackle Broderick Jones.
Paris Johnson Jr. (Cardinals), Darnell Wright (Bears), and Peter Skronoski (Titans) were all gone before the Steelers selected Jones at 14th overall. Because of that, the Jets will go into Day 2 of the draft looking for offensive line help.
The Jets are scheduled to have just four more picks between the next two days of the draft (No. 43, 112, 143, 170). However, Gang Green won’t reach to select a tackle just because of the limited draft capital.
“We are not going to force anything, we are always going to let the board come to us and take the best player available,” Douglas said about feeling the pressure to select an offensive lineman in this year’s draft. “Tonight shows that and we are already happy with what we are going to have on our team.
“We hope to have a few double-digit leads late and we need pass rushers to attack offensive linemen. Fresh legs, fresh pass rushers, it will really help us.”
