Jets have pass rusher Will McDonald IV on a bargain for the next 2 years

The New York Jets picked up the fifth-year option on edge Will McDonald IV earlier in the week, keeping him under contract through 2027.

The club option was worth $14.47 million, an easy choice considering the current market for edge rushers.

McDonald isn't a perfect player. He can get after opposing quarterbacks with his elite speed, but struggles setting the edge in the run game.

Regardless, picking up that fifth-year option was a no-brainer for New York, considering he's essentially now playing on a two-year, $20 million contract.

Jets have Will McDonald IV on the cheap for the next 2 seasons

When you look at McDonald's cap hits for the next two seasons, he's going to cost the Jets $5.2 million in 2026 and $14.475 in 2027. That's an annual average value of roughly $10 million per year.

When you take a step back and look at the current edge market around the league, that's a complete and absolute bargain.

A $10 million AAV places McDonald outside the top-40 of highest-paid pass rushers, making around the same amount as players such as Seattle Seahawks veteran Demarcus Lawrence and Washington Commanders outside linebacker Frankie Luvu.

McDonald may not be one of the best pass rushers in football, but at that price, it's hard to find a better contract in the league for a former first-round talent.

So far, through three years in the NFL, the former Iowa State standout has appeared in 47 games, racking up 21.5 sacks, 48 quarterback hits, 25 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles.

This past season, McDonald had a bit of a down year, and still ended up recording eight sacks. It should be noted that four of them came in one game against the Dillon Gabriel-led Cleveland Browns.

New York's scheme change in 2026, changing over from a base 4-3 to a multiple 3-4 under new defensive play caller Aaron Glenn, should help McDonald's production.

He'll get to play more stand-up linebacker, and will certainly have more attention taken away from him with No. 2 overall pick David Bailey as his primary running mate.

Maybe next offseason we'll be discussing a potential McDonald extension after a big breakout year.

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