With the NFL trade deadline set for November 10, the New York Jets are going to be under the microscope, and Will McDonald IV has emerged as one of the names drawing attention around the league.
Garrett Wilson has already shut down speculation about his own future, but McDonald is a different story. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, the Jets have gotten “significant interest” in the fourth-year edge rusher, though they have not shown any sign of moving him.
“The Jets seem alright with standing pat. They’ve gotten significant interest in fourth-year edge rusher Will McDonald IV but haven’t budged at all... For now, they seem determined to give their coaching staff a chance the rest of the year, and like the mix in their locker room.”
McDonald’s production has not matched the buzz. Through the Jets’ first seven games, he has two sacks and 14 pressures.
The inconsistency has been the story, and it is not a new one. He finished last season with eight sacks, but six of those came in two games.
In the other 13 games he played, he had just two sacks.
There are a few reasons the Jets may be holding the line instead of dealing him now. Aaron Glenn is still trying to save his job, and as long as he is in the building, the Jets are going to want every possible piece that can help them win games right now. McDonald gives them that better than a future draft pick would.
There is also the contract side of it. The Jets already picked up McDonald’s fifth-year option before the season, so he is under team control through the 2027 season. That removes any urgency to move him just to avoid losing him later.
And then there’s the price. If McDonald is coming off a down year, the offers may not be where the Jets want them to be. Breer’s report suggests the market could be built around Day 3 picks, while the Jets may be looking for more from a player who had 18.5 sacks over the two seasons before this one.
Still, if the losses keep piling up before the deadline, the case for dealing him gets stronger. A fifth-round pick might not mean much in 2027, while a pass rusher with McDonald’s track record could matter more. That’s the tension the Jets are weighing right now.
In Other News...
Jets Passing Debate Now Centers On One Garrett Wilson Question
Garrett Wilsons frustration with his role in the passing game has become part of the conversation around the Jets offense, and offensive coordinator Frank Reich is not trying to smooth it over. Reich described the receivers desire for more targets as healthy tension while defending a plan that spreads the ball around instead of locking onto one option, even as Wilson has remained the teams most productive pass catcher this season with 37 receptions for 444 yards and two touchdowns.
The latest flashpoint came in the recent game against Miami, where the Jets again tried to balance getting Wilson involved with keeping the rest of the passing game active. Reich pointed to how attention on Wilson can create chances elsewhere, including for Omar Cooper Jr., but the larger issue remains the same for a team that has struggled to win games: finding an offense that keeps its top receiver engaged without making the attack too predictable. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Lose T'Vondre Sweat And Now Face A Tough Timeline
The Jets have lost another piece in the middle of their defense, placing defensive tackle TVondre Sweat on injured reserve and forcing him out for at least the next four games. Sweat had become a steady presence in the rotation, appearing in seven games and contributing 17 combined tackles along with two tackles for loss before the setback.
For a defense built around controlling the line of scrimmage, the timing is less than ideal, and it leaves the Jets with a short-term hole to patch in Aaron Glenns 3-4 front. The club still believes Sweat can be back later this season, but the immediate challenge is finding enough stability inside while he works his way toward a return. [Read more 🡒]
Jets Offense Has One Costly Problem Frank Reich Must Fix
Through seven weeks, the Jets have had enough offense to stay in games, but not enough finish to separate from them. Their red-zone work has been the clearest example of that problem, with drives reaching scoring range only to stall into field goals or empty possessions, a pattern that has helped turn several winnable moments into close losses.
Frank Reichs job now is to clean up the details inside the 20, where the margin for error gets razor thin and the play-calling has to match the moment. If the Jets can turn more of those chances into touchdowns, the ripple effect could be significant for a team that has already seen how costly those missed opportunities can be. [Read more 🡒]