Will McDonald is the latest example of CBS Sports’ questionable Jets coverage

We’ve all been there when we’re sitting with our friends, talking football or current events, and someone says something so strange that you look at them and you want to say something, but your brain can’t determine the response.

New York Jets fans have felt that way throughout the offseason, at least when CBS Sports is involved. Whether it was suggesting that Garrett Wilson could demand a trade or declaring that Geno Smith and the Jets had the league’s second-worst quarterback room, the overwhelmingly negative coverage has felt oddly personal. 

Don’t expect that to change on the eve of training camp. CBS Sports’ Mike Renner recently attempted to rank all 191 first-round picks since 2020, and the list was outright bizarre. 

Putting Zach Wilson at No. 190, behind only Trey Lance, was easily among the most egregious Jets takes I’ve seen in years. But when you really look into the list, let Will McDonald's placement at No. 105 be proof of how ridiculously absurd the exercise was — and McDonald isn’t even the biggest reason why. 

Trying to make sense of CBS Sports’ Will McDonald IV ranking

McDonald has 21 ½ sacks in three seasons and has consistently made trouble for opposing quarterbacks, so his ranking feels low. But given the influx of young talent we’ve seen enter the league this decade, it’s not as bad as others on Renner’s list.

Titans quarterback Cam Ward placed No. 91, nearly 25 spots ahead of the No. 115-ranked Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Even Jets fans who are old enough to remember booing Bob Griese would likely find issues there.

Let’s get back to McDonald, though. McDonald went No. 15 in 2022, four picks before the Buccaneers selected Calijah Kancey. Yet the latter was No. 80 on Renner’s list despite McDonald having more sacks, forced fumbles, and quarterback hits.

“I decided to evaluate each decision from the team’s point of view, given the draft capital and options available on the board, rather than evaluating talent alone,” Renner wrote. “This is an important distinction because I’m not simply ranking players.”

The injury-prone Joe Burrow finished atop Renner’s list. Not Justin Jefferson (No. 3) or Micah Parsons (No. 8), but a quarterback who has missed at least six games in three of six seasons.

I genuinely do not understand Renner’s list. Yes, the Bengals objectively made the right decision to draft Burrow atop the 2020 draft, but he’s proven that he cannot stay healthy or elevate Cincinnati to a perennial playoff contender. DeVonta Smith (No. 10 in 2021) ranks among the top four receivers from his class in the three major receiving categories yet only placed No. 41.

We need Week 1 to get here immediately. 

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