Will McDonald IV EDGE Iowa State: Scouting Report

Height: 6’4

Weight: 241

Overall

Will McDonald IV is an explosive edge rusher in Iowa State 3-4 defense. In his 5 seasons with the Cyclones, he saw action in 50 games, starting 23 of them. He began his career as a defensive end then moved to linebacker in 2019 before moving back the edge for the remainder of his career. He is an excellent athlete and had very good production as a pass rusher throughout his final 3 seasons.

Pass Game

McDonald has a very quick first step off the edge and has the speed to get around his man and collapse to the quarterback. He has very good lateral quickness on inside moves and shows good hand placement and strength on bullrushes. While he is slightly undersized on the edge he has extremely long arms allowing him to create separation from his man and locate the quarterback. He has very good bend and has the athleticism to get flat to the quarterback off the outside and the speed to get there in a hurry. He does not have a lot of experience in coverage but with his experience at linebacker and his speed he should be able to develop an ability to cover running backs out of the backfield. 

Run Game

Playing in a 3-4 defense forced McDonald to line up on the inside of the line where he was often overpowered by bigger interior linemen. When on the outside he does a sufficient job of holding the edge. He will get pushed back at times but he shows a very high motor and constantly fights through blocks to make plays. He is a very good tackler when he gets his hands on his man and with further development and added mass, he can be a strong run defender later on in his career.

Last Word

While McDonald played in a 3-4 defense in college, he projects best as an edge defender in a 4-3 scheme where he can line up on the outside in a 5 or 7 technique rather than on the interior in a 3 or 4i. He is an excellent pass rusher and has the frame to continue building muscle to improve in his run defense. He will be a dominant player on 3rd downs where he can pin his ears back and get to the quarterback and he has the athleticism to excel on special teams.

One-Liner: Will McDonald IV is an excellent pass rusher who will excel on 3rd downs and with further development he can be a strong 3 down defender.

Grade: 6.6 (Lower End Starter, High End 3rd Down Player)

Games Watched: 2022 - TCU, Baylor; 2021 - Kansas State

Team Fits: Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders