Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason
Jets' Will McDonald IV a 'beast' after adding weight in the offseason
New York Jets head coach Aaron Glenn recently provided an update on edge defender Will McDonald IV, saying that the former first-rounder has added weight to his frame this offseason.
"He's a dynamic athlete for a guy of his stature," Glenn said during the team's OTAs. "I think he's like 6-4, like 240... he actually weighed in more than that because he's gained about 15 pounds."
At his new playing weight, McDonald was a bright spot at OTAs, continuously getting after the passer and disrupting the offense.
He was called a "beast" by NFL reporter Connor Hughes of SNY after a showing at OTAs where Hughes says McDonald got home for three sacks on the day. The added weight hasn't slowed McDonald down, and it seems to have brought his game to another level.
While McDonald finished tied for 12th in the league with 10.5 sacks and 8th in the league with 68 pressures, the hope for him is that the added weight will help him develop into a well-rounded defensive end, specifically one who can be more effective in defending the run.
Among 211 edge defenders in 2024, he ranked 205th in run defense grade (39.5), according to Pro Football Focus.
"It's very good for him because it allows him to set the edge a lot better," Glenn said on McDonald adding some weight. "He has really long arms... he's a guy that has a skillset as far as rushing the passer that... I haven't been around a lot of guys just in my coaching tenure like what we have with him. I'm going to enjoy seeing exactly what he's gonna be able to do for us... and we're gonna let him loose."
Going into year three in the NFL, McDonald is already a very productive pass rusher, but now he has the chance to propel himself into the upper echelon of edge rushers in the league if he can improve his strength and run defense.
If McDonald plays like the "beast" from OTAs during this coming regular season, and his run defense takes steps forward with his bigger frame, it could set him up for a big-time pay day in the future. The Jets will have to make a decision on his fifth-year option, and McDonald is making it seem like a no-brainer for Jets brass at this point.
McDonald will enter this year with a new jersey number, going from his old number 99 to his new number 9.
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