New York Jets appreciate Will McDonald IV’s ‘unique ability to catch the corner’

IOWA CITY — New York Jets running back Breece Hall called his former Iowa State teammate Will McDonald IV Thursday afternoon, seemingly not knowing what was about to happen a few hours later.

“He was just telling me like how proud he is of me and everything,” McDonald said Friday.

That evening, McDonald had some good news for Hall.

“When I got the call, he was actually on the phone with Coach (Matt) Campbell,” McDonald said. “I was like, ‘Ohh, yo, I’m going to the Jets. … It’s going to be me, you and Allen (Lazard), but we’re going to be Cyclone boys.’”

The Jets have high expectations for the newest “Cyclone boy” in East Rutherford, N.J.

“He’s one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic, pass rushers in this draft,” general manager Joe Douglas said. “Great combination of skill and production and athleticism. I think it was on full display at the Senior Bowl and all throughout his career.”

Head coach Robert Saleh said McDonald is “going to be special.”

“With Aaron (Rodgers) here, hopefully we’re playing with a few more leads, and we got a guy that can close the door on some offenses and get to the quarterback,” Saleh said.

The Jets already have an abundance of defensive linemen — 10 were on the active roster before the draft — but Saleh sees the increased depth as an advantage based on the Jets’ defensive rotations.

"We come at you in waves,” Saleh said. “We dress 10 guys on game day.”

Saleh mentioned Denver’s Randy Gregory and Carolina’s Brian Burns as players “we think he kind of compares to.”

“He’s just got a unique ability to catch the corner, and he’s got elite length to get the ball out,” Saleh said.

Saleh anticipates McDonald, currently at 239 pounds, to bulk up in the NFL as part of the “natural maturation” of “getting into an NFL program and that stuff.”

McDonald took some snaps in the interior of Iowa State’s defensive line, but the Jets made it clear they see him as an edge rusher — where he spent most of his time at Iowa State.

“He’s going to be humming off the edge and using all that god-given ability of length and speed and athleticism,” Douglas said.

Before any of those things happen, McDonald needs to get some sleep.

“I haven’t (taken) it all in yet,” McDonald said. “I’m only running on like 45 minutes of sleep.”

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