New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: EDGE Will McDonald IV

Outside linebacker help is a sneaky need for the Giants. So what could Iowa's Will McDonald do to help satisfy that need?

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Apr 8, 2023 4:20 PM EDT

In this story:

New York Giants

Iowa State Cyclones

Will McDonald IV, EDGE

Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 239 lbs.
Class: RS-Senior
School: Iowa State
Age: 23 (06/04/99)

Combine Measurements

Arm length: 34 ⅞”
Wingspan: 82 ¼”
Hand size: 9 ½”
Vertical jump: 36”
Broad jump: 11’0”

A former three-star prospect out of North High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin, where he was the 47th defensive end recruit and the 3rd-ranked prospect from Wisconsin during the 2018 cycle. He was first-team all-state in his senior season of high school.

Notables

Redshirt after four games of action in 2018 after he tallied a sack and forced fumble against TCU. McDonald had five productive seasons for the Cyclones. [STATS]

McDonald recorded 127 pressures and 73 stops in college. Iowa State’s defense was not conducive for statistical success for a player of McDonald’s skills. McDonald has 3-4 EDGE/OLB rusher written all over him, but he played a five and four-technique in a 3-4 ODD Okie/Eagle type of defense, where his hand was in the dirt more often than not.

McDonald’s potential was not realized in college, and he was still an effective player who produced at a high level. He continued his success at the 2023 Reese’s Senior Bowl and was explosive with a 98th percentile board jump at the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.

Get More 2023 Draft Profiles here.

Strengths

Good height, elite length with a slender frame that is underweight
Elite athlete with rare bend and nimble feet - twitchy
Bend & Burst for Days
Elite change of direction, explosiveness (shot out of a cannon), and agility
Love his closing burst and short-area quickness
Let him pin his ears back, and he threatens the EDGE like few rushers in the class
His combination of burst and length is rare to find
Excellent burst off the LOS and acceleration from any stance
A controlled pass rusher with precise hands
Impressive reps of elite placement/timing to win high side

Kansas State: Q1, 7:46, 3rd & 10; Q2, 10:08 3rd & 6 (sack)
Texas Tech: Q2, 1:31 2nd & 9
SE MO ST: Q2, 5:32 3rd & 10

Threatens tackles up the arc with rare speed and bend
Gets so low while bending through contact - flattens so well
Has counter moves - employs inside spin
Strings pass rush moves together - has a plan
Refined as a pass rusher - hands and feet work well in unison
When he was used as Wide rusher, he put extreme stress on OT
Has converted speed to power - could do it more often
Sets blockers up throughout a game
Slanting & twisting is excellent
Played with a low hat and leveraged his gaps adequately when he was aligned outside of a 5T vs. zone runs - length allowed him to initiate contact
Solid arm extension as a run defender
Elite competitor who never gives up
Misused at Iowa State

Weaknesses

Thin and light in the pants
Play strength needs work
Struggles to anchor down against double teams - will get displaced inside of 5T
Isn’t a consistent run defender
Marginal ability to take on pulling blockers - could be more physical
Not a power rusher - relies on quickness and finesse
He’ll be 24 at the start of the season

Summary

Will McDonald IV is a sudden athlete with elite length, quickness, and bend. He has a diverse pass-rushing plan and counter moves and uses his athletic traits well to harass quarterbacks in the pocket by consistently winning high side and cornering into the pocket.

He’s more of a finesse rusher than a power player, but he has some plays on tape where he does convert speed to power to get the tackle on skates, especially when he was rushing from wider angles, which he did not often do at Iowa State.

His usage for the Cyclones did not maximize his skills to get after the passer. Despite that, he’s a refined pass rusher who is adaptive and intelligent. He must get stronger at the point of attack to hold up consistently on the EDGE, although he showed a solid ability to anchor down when he was outside of a 5T due to a low center of gravity and his long arms. If he can get stronger in the run game and with his pass-rushing moves, the sky is the limit for him.

GRADE: 6.69