One Jet Whose Offseason Struggles Shouldn't Worry Fans

There's no need to push the panic button yet.

Jets fans and HC Aaron Glenn shouldn't be worried about this defender, despite a less-than-ideal offseason showing so far. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As the Jets head into the third week of training camp and prepare for their first preseason game against the Buccaneers on Friday, the 2026 roster will begin to take shape even more as players get a chance to impress on the field against some different competition.

Someone who impressed last season and is one of the most important players on this team is defensive end Will McDonald IV, who led the Jets with eight sacks in 2025 and excels as a pass rusher. He acknowledged that he needs to improve against the run, an area the Jets were the fourth-worst group in last season, but there have been some causes for concern regarding his quiet offseason play so far.

That said, there are a few reasons why concerns regarding McDonald's offseason are overblown.

Jets fans shouldn't panic about Will McDonald IV's quiet offseason

McDonald has since bulked up as he tries to improve against the run and is athletic for his position. He still needs to show more at training camp after what has been a silent performance so far, but the 15th overall selection in 2023 is the only player on the team the last two seasons to record more than six sacks, and his explosiveness has made him difficult for opposing teams to slow down.

Additionally, second overall draft pick David Bailey has been one of the biggest winners of training camp so far, and the early buzz surrounding him is certainly warranted as the hype continues to explode. That alone has created some additional pressure and only amplified the silent showing that McDonald has had thus far.

David Bailey's arrival could be key to getting Will McDonald IV back on track, and the Jets should be excited about that. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Both Bailey and McDonald have similar strengths and weaknesses, excelling against the pass while still trying to improve and make some gains against the run. Of the eight sacks that McDonald registered last season, four of them came against the Cleveland Browns, so it is imperative that he becomes more of an every-down player and not just someone who can come in and have a big performance before taking a step back.

With that said, McDonald is credited with 18.5 of the Jets' 68 sacks the last two seasons, so there is a good chance he replicates that success once again. For a team that had the second-fewest sacks (26) in the league in 2025, that level of pressure from McDonald cannot be ignored, even if he has not boasted Pro Bowl-caliber numbers and is lacking some of the big plays you would expect from a former first-rounder.

After all, Pro Football Focus gave McDonald the 37th-ranked pass-rush grade (71.0) out of 115 qualified edge defenders last season. Granted, his overall grade (59.2) was just 85th, and his run-defense grade (41.6) was a dismal 112th, but he still brings some explosiveness and athleticism to a unit that has depended on him to be a constant disruptor on the edge.

At the same time, the 2026 season will be a critical one for McDonald as the Jets decide if he is worth keeping around in the long haul. The Jets brought in free-agent acquisitions Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare, with both possessing better skills as run defenders. Enagbare, specifically, is already making a strong impact against the pass.

Throw in the fact that McDonald only played 57.48% of the Jets' total defensive snaps in 2025, and it is even clearer that he needs to step up as a more reliable down-to-down defender—especially with the increased competition he is facing at the position now.

Regardless of what happened in the past, the Jets need Will McDonald IV to put those concerns in the rearview and put his best foot forward. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Even with that in mind, McDonald has shown to be the type of sack artist the Jets have lacked as a whole recently. Sure, he still needs to develop into more of an all-around edge defender the team can feel comfortable with alongside Bailey, but he has become one of the most valuable components of the Jets' pass rush and should not be doubted yet despite a silent outing in training camp.

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