Will McDonald could be in danger of blowing his cover, especially if his first NFL play turns out as he is envisioning.
Overshadowed by the trade for Aaron Rodgers, the new Super Bowl expectations and the “Hard Knocks” hype, McDonald is the rare Jets’ first-round draft pick operating in obscurity before his rookie season. He says that he “doesn’t really need the attention,” but it sounds like he has a plan to steal some away from other sources.
“Everybody has gotten me to understand that you have to have a mentality going into the league, otherwise you won’t survive,” McDonald said after Monday’s practice. “Definitely I’ve gotten to that point where you have the mentality … every single down you have to kill your opponent.”
McDonald is a possible starter at defensive end Thursday when the Jets (minus most of their veterans) open the preseason against the Browns in the Hall of Fame Game. Pay attention to the Browns’ first pass play because McDonald will be going for his first quarterback hit, after weeks of practicing under hands-off training-camp rules.
“Hopefully, it will be the first thing that I do,” McDonald said, laughing. “That definitely is going to make me happy in a certain way as soon as I’m able to do that. But I have to be able to execute those opportunities once I get them.”
The Jets drafted McDonald with the No. 15 pick, after the Steelers traded up to No. 14 for offensive tackle Broderick Jones. Based on the first two weeks of camp, Jones could’ve slotted in as a starter at an area of significant concern whereas McDonald — whom the Jets claim was their preferred target — looks like an added luxury for the deepest part of the roster.
“Aside from the quarterback, D-line is one of the harder positions to produce within your first year,” head coach Robert Saleh said. “It’s always good when you can fly under the radar. He has a chance to go find himself, figure out who he is, learn some new techniques. His athleticism is freakish. I’m not going to compare him to the people I’m thinking of, but he has a tremendous amount of ability in him.”
McDonald’s most likely role early in the season is as a pass-rush specialist, building on the 34 sacks accumulated in 48 career games at Iowa State. At least until he adds strength to his 6-foot-4, 236-pound frame to complement his first-step quickness and a spin move borrowed from Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby.
“I just kind of mix it in my own way, with my own juice,” McDonald said of the move that had scouts raving pre-draft. “I kind of just create moves in a way to where people expect the unexpected. I watched it on film, went on the field and tried it, got familiar with the steps and perfected it in my way.”
The Jets’ plan for McDonald’s integration alongside Carl Lawson, John Franklin-Myers and others is similar to what was in place for Jermaine Johnson — their third of three-first-round picks in 2022 — when he played 27 percent of the defensive snaps as a rookie. Johnson transformed his body in the offseason and is expected to make big strides in Year 2.
“I’m greatly improved since I got here up until now,” McDonald said. “Just trying to stay in that balance … putting a couple new things in my pass rush. Definitely the bull [rush], just to try to make myself better. Everything expected is for me to make plays and do what I need to do to help the team.”
McDonald’s expanded repertoire was on display Monday when he faked an outside rush and used a swim move to beat second-team left tackle Mekhi Becton. If he replicates that in a game setting, McDonald’s time in the shadows will end quickly.
“He can win with speed, he can counter inside, but until you get those tackles playing a little bit more heavy-footed because they’re afraid of your power, all that stuff won’t matter,” Saleh said. “But I’m excited. I think he’s going to show really well in the preseason.”
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