McDonalds disproves sceptics skilfully: Will McDonald was selected by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Many supporters soon questioned this decision at number fifteen overall and demanded Douglas’s dismissal. Where was the need on the squad for someone like Will McDonald with Bryce Huff and Jermaine Johnson? For Jets fans at the time, this was a legitimate question. It would be a serious understatement to say that those fans weren’t correct about McDonald.
In his debut year, McDonald participated in 15 games. With five assists and nine solo tackles, he only recorded 14 total tackles. In addition, he caused one fumble and earned up three sacks. All of these figures are commendable for a first-year student. Still, there were misgivings by man because of the unanswered uncertainties around McDonald, even with Bryce Huff leading the defensive. As the current campaign gets underway, McDonald has so far done a tremendous job of disproving those who doubted him.
Throughout the first five weeks, Will McDonald has proven naysayers wrong?
It would be an understatement to suggest that Will McDonald has so far proven his doubters wrong. Before this year, McDonald was still the target of criticism. But supporters understood he would need to step up significantly since Bryce Huff was leaving for Philadelphia. McDonald has racked up 12 total tackles this season, including three assists and nine solo stops. McDonald has also amassed seven sacks in just five weeks. This is twice as many sacks as he had during the entire previous season. He also commits one forced fumble.
Within week 2, McDonald played his greatest game to date against the Tennessee Titans. In all, he recorded four tackles, one forced fumble, and three quarterback hits. In addition, he made history by being the first Jet to record three sacks in a single game since 2019. With seven sacks total, McDonald and Dexter Lawrence are tied for second place; the only player with more is Detroit Lions’ Aiden Hutchinson, a superior edge rusher. This is extremely remarkable company to be in for a second-year player, and McDonald has been competing with some of the top players in the NFL. Therefore, McDonalds disproves sceptics skilfully.
Haason Reddick is still holding out, but McDonald’s play on the pitch has been keeping things afloat. Reddick’s return would hopefully come sooner rather than later, giving the defensive front that could rank among the best in the NFL even more depth. Sadly, Jermaine Johnson’s passing didn’t make things better. McDonald is the most significant player on the field, even though Quincy Williams and Quinnen Williams have both been playing well and Jamien Sherwood has been assisting the defence in its success.
For the pass defence, things are starting to come together, and McDonald is largely responsible for that. Any team can win with his ability to get to the quarterback, happily, McDonald is continuing where Huff left off. Regardless, with McDonald’s draft selection, his current calibre of performance justifies the position the Jets selected him at. Not only is McDonald doing admirably, but he is performing akin to one of the NFL’s top five players at his position.
McDonald has become one of the Jets’ most important players on the defensive end of the ball because Reddick is still holding out and Johnson is injured. McDonald has to live up to the hype and be the Jets’ top pass rusher going forward, and it appears that he will fill that role for the defence as a whole. If the last five weeks are any guide, Will McDonald is here to stay and might be one of the most important members of the Jets defence.
