2023 NFL Draft: Could Iowa State's Will McDonald IV Solve the Jaguars' Pass-Rush?

With the Jaguars badly needing pass-rush help, could Iowa State's Will McDonald IV be the best option at No. 24?

Author:
John Shipley
Publish date:
Apr 3, 2023 4:12 PM EDT

The 2023 NFL Draft season is upon us.

Among the 32 teams building their rosters to compete for the next Lombardi Trophy is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who hold nine picks in this season’s draft -- including the No. 24 overall pick.

As we march closer and closer to April’s draft, we will look at individual draft prospects and how they would potentially fit with the Jaguars. Instead of looking at any negatives, we are going to look at what the players do well and if they could match what the Jaguars need at the specific role or position.

Next up: Iowa State's Will McDonald IV.

Overview

A Wisconsin native, McDonald was ranked a three-star recruit in the 2018 class by 247Spots. McDonald was ranked the No. 3 recruit in Wisconsin, the No. 47 weak-side defensive end, and the No. 787 overall player in the nation. McDonald received offers from just Iowa State and New Mexico.

McDonald played in four games as a true freshman in 2018, recording a sack and a forced fumble while still retaining his redshirt. As a redshirt freshman in 2019, he tied the school record for sacks by a freshman with six, which was seventh-most in the Big 12.

2020 saw McDonald earn First Team All-Big 12 honors and be named a Ted Hendricks Award semifinalist after a school-record 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. In 2021, McDonald continued to build on his success, breaking his own sack record with 11.5 while also recording five forced fumbles. As a result, he was named a Third Team All-American by the AP, First Team All-Big 12 and the Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year.

McDonald's redshirt senior season in 2022 saw him once again earn first-team all-conference honors after a team-high five sacks, which gave him 34 sacks for his college career.

What Will McDonald IV Does Well

In the reps where McDonald is able to attack the edge and function as a true edge defender, he shows plenty of traits that translate to the next level. McDonald gains a lot of ground with his first step, showing the speed and explosiveness to force tackles to turn their hips early to meet him at the top of the arc. Despite playing in a read-and-react defense that didn't ask him to consistently time the snap and pin his ears back on the edge, McDonald showed a good understanding for when to get off the ball as a stand-up edge rusher.

As a pass-rusher, McDonald has a deep bag of pass-rush moves. He has exceptional length and athleticism, which allows him to attack offensive tackles with a variety of moves, including both inside and outside spins where he shows the ability to use his length and hands to keep his frame clean. He also showed a nice change-of-pace rush, displaying the burst and lower-body flexibility to quickly dip around offensive tackles on a whim.

Against the run, McDonald is a work in progress because of his role and size. McDonald was asked to play in a 4i role at Iowa State, which forced him to act as almost an interior defender who was on the move against the run. Despite playing out of position in terms of his NFL role, McDonald did show some traits against the run that translate, such as his overall physicality, ability to use his length to extend and lock out defenders, and a high motor that sees him chase the ball with all he has.

How Will McDonald IV Would Fit With the Jaguars

It makes sense why Iowa State utilizes the defense they do; simply look at their defensive stats and the opponents they play. It is a defense built to combat the spread offense and it does exactly that. In terms of what McDonald will do in the NFL, though, few reps are translatable. This makes him a project, albeit a high-upside one.

The Jaguars need a pass-rusher badly following the 2023 free agency period, which is where McDonald would step in. Arden Key and Dawaune Smoot combined for 921 regular-season snaps last year and the Jaguars need to replace both after Key left in free-agency and Smoot's contract expired following his Achilles tear in Week 16. McDonald would likely help take their edge snaps, which could help move Travon Walker inside on a more consistent basis.

In a way, McDonald is a seemingly perfect fit with Walker for 2023. Both excel on stunts and slants and overall compliment each other's strengths and weaknesses. Walker could man the outside linebacker position on running downs, hiding McDonald's lack of size against the run. McDonald could then provide a speed rush off the edge on passing downs, which could allow Walker to move inside as a pass-rusher, a role he thrived at in college and arguably should have been utilized more at in 2022.

Verdict

There are plenty of reasons to have some concern over selecting Will McDonald at No. 24 overall, even with his stellar college production. He is an older prospect and weighed in at the combine as one of the lightest EDGEs in recent history. Plus, he wasn't utilized at all in college like he will be in the NFL, making him a bit of a projection.

With that said, he has all of the athletic traits one could possibly want in an edge rusher. He has excellent explosiveness, agility, and length, and even has the frame to get bigger at the NFL level. If the Jaguars want to make a traits-based gamble at No. 24 to improve the pass rush, then McDonald doesn't seem like an unlikely option. It is risky, but it would be understandable.

For all of our 2023 NFL Draft profiles, click below.