After Thursday's practice, Will McDonald IV sat quietly in the locker room, his head buried in his tablet as he reviewed film.
McDonald may be one of the few bright spots for the Jets in an otherwise underwhelming season.
But the second-year defenseman is far from satisfied with what he accomplished.
“We actually missed the mark,” McDonald said.
McDonald leads the Jets with 10 sacks this season, an impressive improvement from his rookie season when he recorded just three sacks in limited playing time.
McDonald has the 10th most sacks in the league.
Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams has six sacks, second most on the team.
But with two games left on the Jets' schedule, McDonald knows he's unlikely to reach his goal of 18 sacks.
“I have higher standards for myself than anyone else,” said McDonald, who is aiming to break Mark Gastineau's 1984 Jets record of 22 sacks in a season. That's how I wanted it to be, but that's not how I wanted the season to end. ”
Well then, let's start again.
“I'm happy with what I have now,” McDonald said. “Now I know I can be a 10-plus sack player, and I can just keep going up from there.”
What McDonald accomplished this season is no surprise to him.
When the Jets drafted him 15th overall in 2023, he knew what kind of player he could be for them.
He needed a chance to show off his abilities.
The former Iowa State star spent most of his rookie season on the sideline.
McDonald knew he needed to put an extra level of dedication into his offseason plans if he wanted to be given a bigger role in his second year.
McDonald's hired a chef and two trainers. One specialized in agility and the other in strength training.
He gained about 10 pounds and improved his burst.
His spin move is one of my favorites in the pass rusher's arsenal, being crisper and faster.
But through it all, McDonald said his mentality hasn't changed.
“The more opportunities I got, the more I just took advantage of them, because I was the same player I was last year, just played less,” McDonald said. “Now, this year I was able to get that opportunity and make something out of it. So I always knew that I had this mindset. Last year it was I didn't have a chance to really show it. So I'm going to keep throwing the ball out like I'm doing now, get more sacks, and keep doing what I have to do.”
McDonald's doesn't want to leave anything to chance.
“You don't want to arrive late to the party,” he said. “I'd like to start now. [with building] It's my legacy. ”
The Jets have a lot to figure out this offseason.
Hiring a head coach and general manager, determining the future of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and determining the direction of the team are just a few of the list as long as CVS receipts.
But McDonald believes there is reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead.
He believes he will only continue to get better.
He also believes he and Jermaine Johnson can be a lethal defensive duo next season when the Jets' 2022 first-round pick returns after missing most of this season with a torn Achilles tendon.
“The future is going to be crazy,” McDonald said. “We're definitely going to be one of the better duos on the field.
“Jermain is definitely a great edge rusher. He taught me a lot. [Haason Reddick] He taught me a lot. …But with us, I think he can be the type of athlete that can go anywhere, do anything, pass rush and drop. I gained a lot of agility. …Me and Jermaine, it's going to be something you just have to watch. ”
The Jets were eliminated from the playoffs earlier this month, extending the franchise's postseason drought to 14 years.
The Jets head to Buffalo on Sunday, but McDonald said he still “believes” the team can finish the season on some high note.
On a more personal level, McDonald wants to finish the season on a strong note.
“I want to continue to fight as hard as I can for these remaining two games…No matter what the record is, I just want to still be able to release the film,” he said. “I just want to lift my spirits and get my name out there and get the respect that I deserve.”
Spoiling Josh Allen's MVP campaign would also be a nice consolation prize.
“Yeah, I mean, you want to do it,” he said. “You love acting and you do what you have to do.”
