The New York Jets are holding onto their young defender.
Gang Green officially announced on social media that they have picked up the fifth-year team option on Will McDonald’s rookie contract.
According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, McDonald’s fifth-year option is “projected” to be worth $13.75 million.
“McDonald (6-4, 245) led the team last season with 8 sacks while becoming just the fifth Jet since 1982 – when sacks became an official NFL statistic – to register at least 8 sacks in back-to-back seasons. One of 12 players to hold an active streak of consecutive 8-plus sack campaigns, McDonald is also one of only 15 players to record back-to-back 8-plus sack seasons within their first three years in the league. He recorded a career-high 4 sacks and 9 pressures in a Week 10 win over the Browns. Over the past two years, McDonald is one of eight players who have totaled five multi-sack performances,” Jets senior reporter Eric Allen wrote in a press release.
McDonald Is Under Team Control Moving Forward
McDonald, 26, will turn 27 before the start of the 2026 season. With the Jets picking up the fifth-year option on his contract, McDonald is now under team control through the 2027 season.
For the 2026 season, McDonald is set to count $5.1 million against the cap. If you combine the two figures, McDonald will be under contract for two years at $18.85 million.
Production Speaks for Itself
In his NFL career, McDonald has appeared in 47 games and has made 29 starts. With those opportunities, he has collected 21.5 sacks, 25 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries, and 48 quarterback hits.
This Was a No Brainer Move for the Team
There are a few premium positions in football: quarterback, left tackle, and pass rusher.
If you want to win football games and compete for championships, you need to have these boxes checked.
McDonald isn’t a perfect player. He has his deficiencies in run defense. However, what he is very good at is rushing the passer.
This offseason, the Jets reunited with one of the best defensive line coaches in the game: Karl Dunbar.
If McDonald was able to have the success he has had through his first three years, just imagine what he could do under Dunbar’s careful eye.
Dunbar should be able to get more out of McDonald than any previous coach. That should be exciting for Jets fans.
During the 2026 NFL draft, the Jets found a new running mate for McDonald in David Bailey. He was the No. 2 overall pick and the No. 1 overall pick of the non-quarterbacks in this class.
The Jets chose Bailey to be a franchise cornerstone. Last year, he led college football in sacks (14.5). If he can dominate, then opposing offenses will have to account for him with double teams. If that is happening, that should create favorable opportunities for McDonald to take advantage of on the other side of the formation.
McDonald and Bailey should help feed each other. If the Jets can wreak havoc upfront, that should also create opportunities on the backend of the defense to end this embarrassing interception drought. Pressure speeds up the clock of quarterbacks, who then will make errant throws that could transform into turnovers.
Jets Extend Pass Rusher on $13.75 Million Deal Days After Draft