4 teams who could trade for disgruntled Jets edge Will McDonald

The New York Jets seem like they're trying really hard not to be active ahead of the NFL's trade deadline, but edge Will McDonald IV is certainly forcing their hand. The former first-round draft pick requested a trade on Monday morning and is clearly looking to move on to greener pastures.

Aaron Glenn said that the Jets "aren't in the business of trading good players," but there's a chance that the team is just doing its best to drum up interest to get the best possible offer before the 4:00 p.m. deadline.

Around the league, which teams could use the pass-rush juice that McDonald offers off the edge? Will they be willing to cough up anything more than a Day 2 draft pick?

Possible Will McDonald IV trade suitors ahead of the NFL deadline

Tennessee Titans

Could Robert Saleh look to recreate the pair of starting edges he had at the start of the 2024 season? With Jermaine Johnson already in tow, the Tennessee Titans could look to add another pass-rushing specialist to the mix in McDonald.

It's unlikely. The Titans are 1-7 and far from a team that should be considered a buyer at the trade deadline. But considering Saleh's love for pass rushers and the fact that he seems obsessed with adding former Jets, it shouldn't be completely ruled out.

Atlanta Falcons

In a similar vein to the Titans connection, McDonald would likely be interested in playing for his former defensive coordinator, Jeff Ulbrich. The former first-round pick's best season came in 2024, when he was playing under interim head coach Ulbrich's defensive scheme. He racked up 10.5 sacks in 17 games.

Atlanta has a need at pass rusher. They just got James Pearce back from suspension, yes, but they lost Jalon Walker in training camp to a torn ACL. If they want to make a push for the postseason in a weak NFC South, trading for McDonald could be worth their while.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

SNY's Connor Hughes dropped a bit of an interesting nugget on Jets Final Drive on Monday when he revealed that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were a McDonald suitor this past spring. The Jets rebuffed their offers, preferring to trade Jermaine Johnson instead. Tampa Bay wasn't interested.

Well, here we are almost eight months later, and a McDonald trade may be slightly more palatable for the Jets. The Buccaneers could be looking to add some juice to their pass rush as they also vie for first place in a pretty mediocre division.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers don't necessarily have any ties to McDonald, but defensive coordinator Raheem Morris runs a similar scheme to both Saleh and Ulbrich that the Jets' pass rusher could be a better fit for. They may be interested in kicking the tires on a former first-round pick to boost their defense.

San Francisco is currently tied for 29th in the league with the fewest sacks, recording only 15 in eight games. As one of the current favorites to make a run to the Super Bowl, adding a pass-rush specialist to the mix across from former All-Pro Nick Bosa may not be a bad idea.

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