Jets lock in Will McDonald for 2027, reshaping his role from every-down edge to passing-down specialist

The New York Jets took another step toward next season’s roster planning by exercising Will McDonald’s fifth-year option for 2027, a move that keeps the former first-round edge defender in the organization longer while also indicating a potential role adjustment. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, McDonald will no longer be treated as an every-down player in the way teams typically deploy their starting edge defenders. Instead, the expectation is that he will be used more often on passing downs.

The rationale, as described in the offseason evaluation, is that McDonald’s recent impact profile has been more effective as a pass-rushing weapon than as a run defender. Pro Football Focus has ranked him among the bottom-five run defenders at his position in each of the past two seasons, which, in turn, can affect how a team uses him when opponents run to the edges or attack the perimeter. In that setting, the Jets appear willing to sacrifice some run-down opportunities for more specialized pass-rush snaps.

That approach is consistent with the production the Jets have received from McDonald when the game tilts toward the quarterback rush. Over 32 games and 29 starts across the 2024 and 2025 seasons, he recorded 103 pressures, 43 quarterback hits, 21 tackles for loss, and 18.5 sacks. Those numbers translate to a clear strength: making life uncomfortable in the pocket and forcing throws under duress, particularly in obvious passing situations.

Even with concerns about run defense, the Jets still viewed his overall value as high enough to exercise the $13.95 million option for 2027. The reporting also indicates the team is holding off on a contract extension at this point, suggesting they want to see whether a more defined role maximizes his strengths or whether the edge rotation needs additional refinement before committing long-term money.

Part of that rotation picture appears to be the Jets’ offseason investment along the defensive edge. In the draft, New York selected David Bailey second overall, and the team also signed Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare in free agency. The reported takeaway is that these moves are intended to deepen the position group, allowing the Jets to keep multiple players fresh and reduce the reliance on McDonald in run-heavy game scripts.

For Jets fans, the key practical question is how quickly New York can coordinate an edge group that produces pressure without creating run gaps. If the plan is to treat McDonald more like a situational pass rusher, the defensive staff will need to get consistent two-way production from the other end(s) and from the linebackers responsible for edge containment. That also changes what opposing offenses can expect: teams that run often may try to keep the Jets in run states where McDonald is less central, while teams that pass will likely design game plans around how quickly New York’s front can generate pressure.

Looking ahead, the most important “watch next” element is how the Jets distribute snaps and assignments as the season develops. If the team stays true to the reported direction, McDonald’s season will be judged less by whether he is on the field for every down and more by how efficiently he converts pass-rush opportunities into hits, sacks, and disrupted plays. Meanwhile, Bailey, Ossai, and Enagbare will carry a larger share of the run-and-pass responsibilities, making their early-season cohesion central to New York’s defensive consistency.