NFL Draft Notebook: Will McDonald Showing He’s One of the Best Pass Rushers in the 2023 NFL Draft

Week two of the college football season is in the books, and we have a fresh NFL Draft Notebook for you!

In this week’s NFL Draft Notebook we take a look at one of the best pass rushers in college football. Iowa State’s Will McDonald has posted double-digit sack numbers each of the past two seasons and has the skill set to be a feared pass rusher at the next level.

In addition to breaking down Will McDonald’s game, this week’s edition also takes a look at some rookies to watch in the AFC East, some prospects who have been battling injuries, and much more.

Will McDonald Scouting Report

One of the reasons Iowa State has established itself as one of the better teams in the Big 12 is their ability to find diamonds in the rough in the recruiting process. One player who fits this label is defensive end Will McDonald, who has gone from a player that only received two FBS offers, to the player who led the FBS in sacks going into the year.

In high school, McDonald focused on basketball until he transferred to Waukesha North as a junior. When he decided to give football a try he was dominant on the field, having recorded 40.5 tackles for loss and 23.5 sacks over his junior and senior years. Despite putting up strong numbers in his last two years in high school, he still received little college interest with only Iowa State and New Mexico offering him a scholarship.

McDonald decided to take the scholarship offer from Iowa State, and while seeing limited action as a true freshman, he started to shine in 2019. During this year, he started off as a linebacker but moved to defensive end midway through the season. After making the switch, McDonald was unstoppable as he recorded five sacks in the last four games of the season.

As a sophomore, McDonald was allowed to focus solely on playing defensive end and his play continued to improve. He tied for the national lead in sacks (10.5) on the year and was also able to record 13.5 tackles for loss. This strong season led to McDonald being selected to the Big 12 first team.

His best season came last year though, when he was able to bring the quarterback down 11.5 times, which is the most in Iowa State history. In addition to consistently getting after the quarterback he also showed a nose for the ball, recording five forced fumbles, which was the fourth highest total in college football.

For his efforts that season he was named the Big 12 Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year and was also named to several All-American teams. This season could be a record-breaking year for McDonald as he has a strong chance of breaking the Big-12 sack record, which is held by Von Miller.

One thing NFL scouts will undoubtedly love about McDonald is his ability to get after the passer. His production is undeniable in this area, and he shows the traits to continue to be successful in this area at the next level. One of these traits is his flexibility, which allows him to get around the corner against even the best offensive tackles in college football.

Another positive with him is his nonstop motor. The fact he is always hustling on the football field has allowed him to pick up his share of coverage sacks and also has helped him overcome consistent double teams.

One more redeemable quality with McDonald’s game is his ability to beat tackles with both his speed and strength. He displays good short-area quickness, which allows him to beat offensive linemen off the ball consistently. He also shows good power as a pass rusher; this is important because he only weighs 236 pounds.

This lack of size does raise some concerns. One of these questions is: how well will he hold up versus the run? He has been a liability at times in the run game when teams decide to run at him. This will be an even bigger issue in the NFL if it is not addressed before then.

He also only has average balance and tends to spend more time on the ground than a possibile first-round pick should. One more concern with him is that while he is quick in a short area, he lacks the burst most undersized defensive ends need to play at a high level in the NFL.

While McDonald is a productive pass rusher, the popular question is: where do you draft an undersized defensive end who lacks the elite burst off the edge that a player his size needs? Another thing scouts wonder is: what type of scheme will he fit in best?

I currently have a low second-round grade on McDonald, but could easily see him slipping to day three of the draft if he does not put up strong testing numbers at the NFL Draft Scouting Combine. In terms of what scheme he fits best in, he should be able to reach his potential in either a 3-4 defense or 4-3 defense.

In a 3-4 scheme he will likely be asked to play outside linebacker, where he will be required to constantly rush the passer, and at times drop into coverage. McDonald is athletic enough of a defender that he should be able to succeed in this role. In a 4-3 defense he will be best playing in a nine-technique, where his lack of size will be less of a concern.

AFC East Rookies to Watch

Buffalo Bills
While Buffalo Bills second-round pick James Cook might see limited carries this season, the real question centers around his usage in the passing game. Cook shows terrific hands and with his speed, he can be a nightmare matchup versus linebackers. Look for Cook to get plenty of reps on third down this season, as both a traditional running back and a player who they motion out wide.

Miami Dolphins
While Miami’s wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle offer plenty of speed, fourth-round pick Erik Ezukanma is more of a physical receiver. Ezukanma should be able to compliment those two players and see plenty of space in the passing game, as teams will be afraid of Hill and Waddle beating them deep. Ezukanma had a strong preseason with his best game coming against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he caught six passes for 119 yards.

New England Patriots
The surprise pick of day one of the 2022 NFL Draft came when the New England Patriots took Cole Strange with the No. 29 overall pick. So far, Strange has looked like he belongs in the NFL by earning a starting spot this season and failing to allow a sack all preseason. If Strange can have a great season this year, teams could become more willing to look at the FCS level early in the 2023 NFL Draft.

New York Jets
An early favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year is Jets cornerback Ahmad Gardner. He did not see a single team throw his way all preseason and also held up well aginst the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener. If he can continuie to play at this level, look for “Sauce” to establish himself as a true shutdown corner in the NFL.

NFL Draft Scouting Notes

— It is hard to not be impressed with Clemson defensive end Myles Murphy when you put on the film. The first thing that stands out with Murphy is how well he gets off the ball, especially for a player 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds. In addition to his quickness off the ball, Murphy shows the strength to be a two-gap defensive end or even shift inside to defensive tackle on passing downs for 4-3 defensive teams. One concern is that he needs to improve his football IQ since he does get out of position at different times and will overrun plays.

— A sleeper in the 2023 NFL Draft is Notre Dame’s Justin Ademilola. Ademilola has been stuck behind Isaiah Foskey, who should be a high draft pick next April. Despite seeing limited playing time, he was still able to account for 5.5 sacks last year to go along with his 31 tackles. Two positives standout when watching his film; the first one being his hand usage. He does a good job of using his hands to get off blocks and also has some legit pass rush moves. The other positive is his versatility, having lined up at outside linebacker, middle linebacker, and defensive end for the Irish. One thing that could cause him to fall in the draft is his lack of ideal size, coming in at only 6-foot-1, but he does have long arms, which help make up for his lack of height.

— Army has not had a player drafted since Caleb Campbell was taken in the 2008 NFL Draft. However, look for that to change this season when defensive end Andre Carter is drafted, likely on day two of the NFL Draft. In fact, Carter will assuredly be the highest drafted player from Army since 1947, when Glenn Davis went to the Detroit Lions with the second overall pick. The reason Carter will be drafted so high is his combination of size (6-7, 260 pounds), speed, and overall agility.

— After missing most of fall camp and the first game of the season, it was nice to see Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman back in action. Hartman completed 67% of his passes while throwing for 300 yards and four touchdowns versus Vanderbilt. Hartman is the type of prospect who will go late in the NFL Draft but could have a long career as a backup quarterback.

— While it was nice to see Sam Heartman back this week, one prospect who was unable to return is BYU wide receiver Puka Nacua. Nacua injured his ankle in the season opener against South Florida. While Nacua currently carries a free agent grade, his ability to stretch a defense, combined with his overall physical style of play, makes him a player worth watching when he is healthy.