The biggest move of the offseason for the New York Jets was completed earlier this week. They were finally able to acquire Aaron Rodgers from the Green Bay Packers, accomplishing their goal of making a major upgrade at quarterback.
As part of the trade, New York swapped first-round picks with Green Bay. The Packers moved up to No. 13 and selected Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa. With the No. 15 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Jets selected Iowa State EDGE defender, Will McDonald IV.
McDonald makes it two straight years that the Jets added an athletic speed rusher to their defense. Last year, it was Jermaine Johnson III who was selected with the team’s third first-round pick of the draft.
The Iowa State product will face a lot of competition for snaps in the early going. The Jets still have Carl Lawson on the roster, so McDonald will have to earn his playing time. The hope, down the road, is that he will turn into a starter opposite of Johnson for years to come. Alas, not everyone is as high on the selection.
One of the people left scratching their heads is Pete Prisco of CBS Sports. Prisco gave the Jets’ selection of McDonald one of his lowest grades of the first round with a C+. Only four picks received a lower grade and one, the Kansas City Chiefs selecting Felix Anudike-Ozumah, tied the Jets’ C+.
“I am not sure of this pick for this team. This is a little high for my liking and they had some more pressing needs. Is he a game-changer? I doubt it. Good player, not worth this pick.”
McDonald certainly wasn’t alone in his assessment that 15 was high for McDonald. His overall rank was closer to the mid-20s in many cases, making this a reach pick by New York. Finding an EDGE defender also wasn’t near the top of their needs list, which plays a part in Prisco’s low grade for the selection.
In 48 games with the Cyclones, McDonald totaled 40.5 tackles for loss and 34 sacks. He can certainly create some plays in the backfield and the Jets are hoping that continues at the next level.
New York likely had to adjust their plans after moving back two spots from the Rodgers trade. Had they remained at No. 13, they wouldn’t have had to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers trade up to No. 14 ahead of them to select Broderick Jones, the last offensive tackle with a consensus first-round grade.
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