Will McDonald IV remains Jets defensive mystery for Aaron Glenn

The Jets have a lot of new faces at edge rusher this season.But it is one familiar face that feels like a bit of a forgotten man with the 2026 Jets. Will McDonald IV is still here.

The question is what role he will be in for a Jets defense in transition.  Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.“I envision him being a good player for us,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said.

“And whatever capacity that we’re going to have him in, I feel like he’s going to be a good player for us.” Well, that does not clear up much. McDonald was a first-round pick in 2023 by the old regime of Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh.He’s had some good moments as a Jet.

He had 10 ½ sacks in 2024.He had a blocked field goal for a touchdown last year against the Buccaneers.

McDonald registered four sacks against the Browns last year. But there also has been some inconsistency.He finished last season with eight sacks total even though he had four in that one game.

There have been games in which he has not had much impact.His run defense remains a question. There is a question of how well he fits Glenn’s scheme.

The head coach professes to liking big guys up front, and that was evident this offseason with many of the additions the Jets made.McDonald is a smaller edge rusher whose game is based on speed. McDonald added some weight this offseason.

Glenn recently said he is 240 pounds.He looks bigger in his uniform, but the questions remain just how the Jets will use him.

They drafted David Bailey at No.2 overall and signed edge players Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare.

There surely will be a rotation on the edge, but just how big a part of that McDonald will be remains a question. On Thursday, McDonald said the additions did not make him question how he fits. “No, not really,” McDonald said.“The scheme of the defense is to get like help.

Those are really good guys, good run defenders, goo...