In the perfect scenario, the Detroit Lions will acquire a cornerback at the NFL trade deadline. But an intriguing option officially surfaced for the team’s edge rusher room one day before the NFL trade deadline.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning edge rusher Will McDonald IV requested a trade from the New York Jets.
“Jets pass-rusher Will McDonald IV has informed the team that he wants to be traded, sources say,” wrote Rapoport.
“McDonald has played sparingly this season and is extremely frustrated with his usage. The former first-rounder wants more opportunities and the team is aware.”
Even before the trade request, pundits linked McDonald to several teams in trade rumors. Last month, we at Heavy Sports explored the idea of the edge rusher landing with the Lions.
“Will McDonald may actually be the best trade Detroit can make to improve its defense given the circumstances, even despite the fact that he could cost a late Day 2 pick,” wrote Heavy Sports’s Max Dible after Week 5. “That is because he is young, in his fourth year, and has juice as a former first-round pick who tallied 18.5 sacks in 2024-25 combined.”
McDonald has posted three sacks with two tackles for loss and seven quarterback hits this season. He has done that despite playing just 46% of his team’s defensive snaps through nine games.
Why Lions Could Target Will McDonald IV
Again, Detroit’s biggest defensive need, and biggest roster need for that matter, is cornerback. But most pundits expect the Lions to bargain hunt before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
So, if the team can’t find a cornerback for the right price, dealing for an edge rusher to indirectly help the secondary makes sense.
McDonald could provide Detroit’s pass rush a boost. From 2024-25 when he was playing two-thirds of his team’s defensive snaps, McDonald registered 18.5 sacks in 32 games.
In October, we proposed the Lions send a 2027 third-round pick to the Jets for McDonald. Perhaps the offer could be lower now that the edge rusher appears to be trying to force his way out of New York.
The fact former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is the Jets head coach might only help Detroit general manager Brad Holmes in negotiations.
Despite the trade request Monday morning, though, the Jets appear steadfast on keeping McDonald.
Less than two hours after his initial report of McDonald’s trade request, Rapoport added Glenn’s negative response to the idea of dealing the edge rusher.
“Coach Aaron Glenn: ‘Will is going to be here.’ Essentially, Glenn says they don’t want to trade good players,” wrote Rapoport.
Lions Rookie Edge Rushers Emerging After Week 9
While it would be wise for the Lions to kick the tires on adding McDonald, it would also be understandable if the team doesn’t have a lot of motivation to add any edge rusher.
That’s because the team’s investment in the position this past offseason is beginning to pay dividends.
In Week 9 versus the Miami Dolphins, three Lions rookies registered a quarterback hit. Two of those first-year players were edge rushers Derrick Moore and Anthony Lucas.
Moore, who the Lions selected in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, experienced a breakout game Sunday. Moore recorded his first sack and then had another one for his first multi-sack outing.
The last thing the Lions should want to do is add an edge rusher who would block Moore from getting the more playing time he earned in Week 9.
With that in mind, it’s probably a long shot the Lions acquire McDonald. But it wouldn’t hurt for the team to inquire given his trade request.
Potential Lions Edge Rusher Target Officially Makes Trade Request: Report