Will McDonald IV

Iowa State EDGE

Games Watched: Baylor, Texas, TCU

Summary: Will McDonald is a speed rusher who should be used as a stand up pass rusher. He wins with incredible quickness off the snap, and his deep pass rushing arsenal that includes a nasty spin move. He makes it tough for the quarterback even when he can’t make the sack, and he also identifies run or pass quickly. The trade-off for McDonald’s explosiveness is a lack of play strength that primarily affects him in the run game. He struggles to hold the edge at times, and his over aggression doesn’t do him many favors either. He also has less bend than expected from a sub 240 lb pass rusher.

Pros

  • Incredible quickness off of the snap
  • Deep pass rushing arsenal with many developed and effective moves
  • Uses his hands well as a pass rusher
  • Disruptive even when he’s not making the sack
  • Reads run/pass very well

Cons

  • Lacks play strength of a typical edge rusher
  • Doesn’t have as much lateral mobility as a guy his size should have
  • Often abandons his responsibilities in the run game because of his aggressiveness

Grade: Will McDonald gets an early 2nd round grade. While he can be a good pass rusher, teams will have to work around his weaknesses in the run game to maximize how effective he can be.