New York Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV has informed the team that he wants to be traded before Tuesday afternoon’s deadline, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, according to ESPN.
McDonald has played sparingly this season and is extremely frustrated with his usage,
Rapoport reported on Monday, noting that the former first-round draft pick wants more playing time.
Through nine games in 2026, McDonald has logged approximately 46 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps, down from 66 percent in each of the previous two seasons, as reported by Sports Illustrated. The 27-year-old defensive end has seen his playing time decrease under head coach Aaron Glenn. He has recorded 16 total tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries this season.
#Jets pass-rusher Will McDonald IV has informed the team that he wants to be traded, sources say. McDonald has played sparingly this season and is extremely frustrated with his usage. The former first-rounder wants more opportunities and the team is aware. pic.twitter.com/QCxFC0Ciwn
The Jets selected McDonald 15th overall out of Iowa State in the 2023 NFL Draft. He posted 10.5 sacks during the 2024 campaign and eight sacks in 2025 under the previous regime, but his role changed after the franchise added rookie David Bailey along with veteran edge rushers Joseph Ossai and Kingsley Enagbare in the offseason, according to ESPN.
The former first-rounder wants more opportunities and the team is aware,
Rapoport stated, adding, Teams have called NYJ interested in McDonald, yet the Jets have not engaged in trade talks. And they have no plans to.
Teams have called NYJ interested in McDonald, yet the Jets have not engaged in trade talks. And they have no plans to. https://t.co/5ekZIdQS9U
Before the season, the Jets exercised the fifth-year option on McDonald’s rookie contract. That option ties him to the franchise through the 2027 season with a guaranteed salary of $13.8 million, according to ESPN, or a $14.475M cap hit as reported by NBC Sports.
ET trade deadline on Tuesday. SNY reported that Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles expressed specific interest in trading for McDonald last year, while analysts have also tied him to clubs such as the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Cleveland Browns.
At 2-7, New York sits toward the bottom of the standings under head coach Aaron Glenn, whose overall record fell to 5-21 following a 35-12 defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Despite the struggles and outside links, analysts like ESPN’s Rich Cimini have noted that a deal involving McDonald could net a fourth- or fifth-round draft pick.
Potential landing spots mentioned across reports include Atlanta — where former Jets coach Jeff Ulbrich serves as defensive coordinator — alongside the New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Dallas Cowboys, while wide receiver Garrett Wilson remains entirely off-limits as pundits agree he is not remotely available.
When Aaron Glenn got the job, he was convinced that he'd have a huge effect on Will McDonald, going so far as to suggest he wasn't properly coached by the previous staff. After one year, #Jets switched to a 3-4 and added Bailey, Ossai and Enagbare — so the handwriting was on…
More on Aaron Glenn
A source confirms that Jets pass rusher Will McDonald has asked for a trade, as @RapSheet reported. This has been a long time coming. McDonald has never felt like a fit for Aaron Glenn and his playing time has dwindled.
From @gmfb: #Jets pass-rusher Will McDonald IV wants out, as he’s feeling marginalized because of a lack of snaps. pic.twitter.com/3AXT0hC8oD
McDonald has been frustrated with his reduced role for a while. He has tried to handle it with his coaches but it has not improved. Jets have turned down trade inquiries on McDonald going back to last year. If Darren Mougey can get value for him, why keep him if he is a role…
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