The Jets are being careful with Will McDonald, and that caution could turn into a bigger decision if he doesn’t keep trending in the right direction.
New York isn’t ready to lock him into a long-term extension yet. The team wants more from him as a run defender and wants to see more consistency before it makes that kind of commitment. If the Jets remain unconvinced, a trade is on the table.
Atlanta suddenly looks like a possible landing spot. The Falcons’ pass rush picture changed fast over the last few months. Jalon Walker is out for the season with a torn ACL, and James Pearce Jr. is dealing with a legal situation that could affect his availability.
That opens the door for a McDonald deal, though the Jets might not be interested in draft picks alone. Darren Mougey already pulled off a rare player-for-player swap in the T'Vondre Sweat-Jermaine Johnson deal, and he could chase another immediate upgrade at a position of need. One name that fits is safety Jessie Bates III.
The idea makes some sense for both sides. The Jets now have more edge depth than they’ve had in years after adding No. 2 pick David Bailey and free agents Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare. Bailey, who already looks like the top-end prospect he was billed to be, could make a move like this easier to pull off.
Bates is in the final year of his contract too, and while he’s not the same player he once was, he would still give New York a real boost. He’d slide in as the Jets’ second-best safety behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and would instantly become the best ball-hawking safety on the roster. Bates has at least one interception in every pro season and has 27 interceptions in eight years.
New York also has three first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, which could make it simpler to replace McDonald with another pass rusher than to find a starting safety who can make plays on the ball right away. Atlanta, dealing from a desperate spot, might even have to add something to get the deal done.
A trade still feels unlikely, especially with McDonald expected to have a bigger year in a season where he may not be playing from behind by three touchdowns every week. But Mougey has been aggressive in the weeks leading up to the season, and Atlanta’s injuries could be the kind of twist that pushes this possibility into real territory.
In Other News...
Jets Rookies Are Already Creating Clear Camp Winners And Losers
Training camp has already started sorting the Jets rookie class, and the early returns are fairly easy to read. David Bailey and Darrell Jackson Jr. have been among the standouts, two first-year players who have boosted their stock with strong showings, while Omar Cooper Jr. has given the offense a possible dependable target in the receiving corps. For a team trying to build depth and competition all over the roster, those kinds of early impressions matter even before the pads really come on.
The other side of that ledger is less encouraging. Kenyon Sadiq and D'Angelo Ponds have both seen their momentum stall because of injuries and limited practice time, and the gap between availability and promise can get wide fast in camp. Cade Klubnik remains another name to watch as a quarterback draft pick, but the Jets are still waiting to see him on the field, which leaves one of the more intriguing rookie storylines unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]
Tim Patrick Could Be More Important To The Jets Than Fans Think
Tim Patrick arrived in May after the draft, and his value to the Jets may extend well beyond the usual search for another pass catcher. At 32, he brings a veteran presence to a receiving room that can use steadiness, and Adonai Mitchell has already singled out Patricks leadership and experience as traits that matter inside the locker room.
Patrick has also shown he can still produce in recent seasons, but what may really help him fit in with the Jets is the less flashy side of his game. His run-blocking stands out, and in a team trying to build a more complete offense, that kind of work can quietly make a receiver more important than his role on the depth chart suggests. [Read more 🡒]