This New York Jets star's future now seem very obvious following the team's big trade.
The New York Jets swung a significant trade on Thursday, sending edge rusher Jermaine Johnson to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat.
It was definitely an impressive haul for the Jets, who also dangled Johnson in trade discussions at the deadline back in November.
Considering the return they just received, it's probably a good thing they waited.
Now, New York has a decision to make on fellow pass rusher Will McDonald, whose fifth-year option for 2027 is currently on the table.
But after the Jets' decision to move Johnson, it seems fairly obvious that they will now retain McDonald. At least in the short term.
McDonald registered 30 tackles, eight sacks and 19 quarterback hits in 15 games this past season. On paper, the numbers looked solid, but McDonald only logged one sack over his last six contests, and half of his season total came in one game against the Cleveland Browns.
As a whole, the 26-year-old did not have a great year, and with McDonald being very weak against the run, his lack of a consistent presence in the pass rush was a problem.
New York Jets edge rusher Will McDonald. Credit: Julian Leshay Guadalupe/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.However, McDonald is two seasons removed from racking up 10.5 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, so there is reason to believe he can recover in 2026.
The Jets' plan seems pretty obvious: exercise McDonald's fifth-year option and then draft one of the top pass rusher available this April (maybe either Rueben Bain or David Bailey).
McDonald had been floated as a trade candidate for quite some time now, but with Johnson now being gone, it probably means that the former will stay put.
The Iowa State product was selected by New York with the 15th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and has mostly been a part-time player ever since, having played in 66 percent of Gang Green's defensive snaps each of the last two years.
The Jets definitely need a better all-around edge rusher alongside of him, which is why the versatile Bain — who might also play inside on the professional level — might be New York's best bet with the No. 2 overall pick.
A contract extension probably isn't coming for McDonald just yet, but it would be surprising if the Jets didn't pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal, which will be worth $14.7 million.
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