Jets Will Not Extend DE Will McDonald In 2026

The Jets will wait to evaluate McDonald in 2026 in advance of any potential extension, ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes. New York picked up his fifth-year option this spring. As a result, McDonald is due $13.75MM fully guaranteed for 2027.

As a rookie, McDonald logged a defensive snap share of just 19%. He has been a starter for the past two years, though, playing 66% of the snaps each time. Another campaign featuring a notable workload can be expected for 2026, a season in which several new faces will be in place along the edge. Jermaine Johnson was traded away, but Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare were added via free agency.

The Jets then used the second overall pick in April’s draft on David Bailey. The Texas Tech product will be counted on to make an immediate impact in the pass rush department for head coach Aaron Glenn and Co. Even so, McDonald will be in position for another productive year in that regard. He has totaled 18.5 sacks and 58 quarterback pressures across the past two years, and building off those totals in 2026 could set him up for a payday next spring.

As Cimini notes, the Jets have taken care of a few in-house deals so far this offseason and are not planning any others. The likes of running back Breece Hall and right guard Joe Tippmann have signed long-term deals with New York. Year 2 of the tandem with Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will be key as the Jets look to improve from last season’s 3-14 outing. McDonald, 27, figures to be an impactful figure in that effort.

The top of the EDGE market stands well beyond the figure McDonald is already set to make in 2027. Whether or not he manages to secure an extension bringing about a raise will remain an unanswered question for several more months, though.