![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Will-McDonald-IV.jpg\")
Will McDonald IV talks with reporters during Jets training camp on July 29, 2025. Bill Kostroun \/ New York Post<\/p>\nWill McDonald IV\u2019s breakout 2024 season with the Jets didn\u2019t leave him satisfied or content.<\/p>\n
It actually instilled a hunger \u2014 literally \u2014 for him to get better.<\/p>\n
A big part of that was his food intake. McDonald dedicated his offseason to putting on weight.<\/p>\n
The first-round pick added 15 pounds in an effort to add versatility to his speed-centric game.<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout six meals a day,\u201d the on-the-rise defensive end said after practice Tuesday. \u201cEating the right foods, all of that. I was able to gain a couple of pounds from doing that. Now I\u2019m out here ballin\u2019. That\u2019s what I\u2019m going to keep doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his second year in the league, McDonald, 26, led the Jets with 10.5 sacks, mostly the result of his elite athleticism on the edge. But thanks to that newfound strength, McDonald now has a power component he previously lacked.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s like a pitcher with a big fastball who can\u2019t locate his off-speed pitches. Eventually, hitters will catch up to the heater. <\/p>\n
Now, McDonald believes he doesn\u2019t have to just rely on running \u2014 or his forte, spinning \u2014 past offensive linemen. If they play him for his patented speed rush, he has another move in his back pocket.<\/p>\n
Will McDonald IV talks with reporters during Jets training camp on July 29, 2025. Bill Kostroun \/ New York Post<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was already added, I just never really utilized it as well as I should,\u201d the 6-foot-4, 245-pound McDonald said. \u201cI had to change my approach with everything. Obviously everybody knows that I like to [use my] speed, my spin, all of that. But once I get tackles on their heels, I\u2019m able to use that power and strength.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cOne thing that I was missing last year was my consistency. If you\u2019re not changing your game, you\u2019re not being consistent with what you\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
After proving himself in 2024, McDonald will be counted on as a linchpin to a defense that fell off a cliff. The unit was 19th in points allowed (23.8) and forced just 17 turnovers \u2014 only six teams forced fewer.<\/p>\n
![\"Will](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Will-McDonald-IV-2.jpg\")
Will McDonald IV pressures Geno Smith during the Jets\u2019 loss to the Seahawks on Dec. 1, 2024. Bill Kostroun \/ New York Post<\/p>\n
There is hope the group can bounce back, particularly if McDonald further emerges as a force. <\/p>\n
New coach Aaron Glenn has raved about his work ethic, describing him as someone who \u201cwants to be coached hard\u201d and is \u201ca damn good player, and I expect big things out of him.\u201d <\/p>\n
McDonald, in turn, said he feels comfortable with the new boss.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cReal down to earth, man,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cHe treats me like his own son. Can\u2019t say too much, but I know he\u2019s got my back.\u201d<\/p>\n
There is potential for the Jets to have a stout front four. <\/p>\n
Along with star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, fellow first-round pick and defensive end Jermaine Johnson, who was lost to a torn right Achilles tendon in Week 2, is expected to be ready for Week 1 against the Steelers. <\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGet the insider\u2019s view on Gang Green\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for Inside the Jets by Brian Costello, a weekly Sports+ exclusive.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\tThank you\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
In 2023, Johnson was a Pro Bowl performer, producing 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. McDonald envisions the two terrorizing opposing quarterbacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cMe and Jermaine are going to be ballers this season, that\u2019s all I\u2019ve got to tell you,\u201d McDonald said. \u201cMe and him are going to ball out, we\u2019re going to do our thing. I trust him, he trusts me.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce we get on the field, we trust each other enough to get the job done.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Will McDonald IV\u2019s breakout 2024 season with the Jets didn\u2019t leave him satisfied or content. It actually instilled…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":247097,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2051],"tags":[7,226,1917,255,2321,2097,6,5737,9,20113],"class_list":{"0":"post-247096","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york-jets","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-jets","10":"tag-new-york","11":"tag-new-york-jets","12":"tag-newyork","13":"tag-newyorkjets","14":"tag-nfl","15":"tag-ny-sports-minute","16":"tag-sports","17":"tag-will-mcdonald"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/114940304942901696","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}