Will McDonald may benefit from Jets' offseason due to game script changes

The New York Jets have gotten some very confusing returns from former first-round pick Will McDonald in recent years, but a turnaround might be coming in the 2026 season.

Warren Sharp illustrated that the Jets were dead last in the league by a wide margin in snaps with a lead, mustering just 66 snaps with a lead all season long. With the Jets down so often, they were forced to defend the run more than most teams, eating into McDonald's production.

If the Jets' improvements end up having the impact many believe they will, McDonald should get more chances to pin his ears back and use his explosion to get to the quarterback.

Jets EDGE Will McDonald could break out in 2026 should Jets lead more often

McDonald is not a good run defender. In fact, he grades out as perhaps the worst run defender in the NFL who plays as much as he does. However, his pass rush upside is real, and he should be the favorite to lead the Jets' new-look pass rush in the 2026 season despite the addition of David Bailey.

McDonald was constantly put in positions where he had to defend the run often, which is not the best use of his talents. Even great designated pass rush specialists like Nik Bonnito or Elvis Dumervil of yesteryear would be neutralized by a game script that doesn't play to their strengths

To make up for McDonald and Bailey not being the best at defending the run, the Jets signed two proven edge-setters in Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare to rotate in, all while beefing up the interior of the offensive line by signing David Onyemata and using a fourth-round pick on Darrell Jackson Jr.

Geno Smith and the offense need to hold up their end of the bargain as well. Even if the Jets are much more effective as a defense, it will all be for nothing if the passing game is unable to put any distance between them and their opponents; these improvements will all but assuredly amount to nothing.

The Jets had so few bright spots to write home about last year, but the collection of talent blended together to form such a rancid overall lineup that it's tough to imagine any sort of way where players like McDonald could be put in a place to succeed. 2026 could lead to more Jets leads and more McDonald sacks.

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