FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- In late January, New York Jets defensive end Will McDonald IV cut short a vacation in Miami to return to New Jersey, where he started working out at the team's facility. Does the early bird get the quarterback?
The Jets sure hope so because their investment in McDonald, drafted 15th overall in 2023, needs to pay off in a big way now that sack leader Bryce Huff is off to the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year contract for a reported $51.1 million. The Jets let Huff get to the open market, in part, because of their faith in McDonald, who had a non-descript rookie year after a prolific career at Iowa State.