Every single team would love to improve their pass rush, and there aren’t many safer edge defenders in the NFL Draft than Will McDonald. The Iowa State product has the versatility to line up at multiple positions and get after the quarterback from all over the field, and that ability will entice several franchises.
While McDonald is a good prospect, he isn’t in the same tier as guys like Will Anderson. Because of this, most expect him to go off the board either late in the first round or early in the second. So, with that draft positioning in mind, let’s see which teams are most likely to draft him.
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Top 5 Teams That Could Draft Will McDonald
Kansas City Chiefs
Even though they won the Super Bowl last, the Kansas City Chiefs still have a lot of work to do on defense. The unit wasn’t anything special last year, and they lost Juan Thornhill and Frank Clark in the offseason. Will McDonald could immediately improve the pass rush and his shortcomings as a run defender won’t matter on Kansas City’s defense. Opposing offenses will have to throw early and often to keep up with Patrick Mahomes, so McDonald should be able to spend most of his time getting after the quarterback.
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts need help at just about every position. Rebuilding is never easy, and the team will have to prioritize which holes to address with their limited resources. Assuming they select a quarterback with their first-round pick, they’ll likely look to the defensive side of the ball in Round 2. The most important thing a defense can do in today’s pass-happy NFL is getting after the quarterback, and Will McDonald can help the Colts accomplish that goal.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints lost a lot of talent on their defensive line, and they haven’t done too much to replace it. If drafted, Will McDonald might just be the best pass rusher on this team, and having someone that can disrupt the passer will be crucial in a division with so much untested and underwhelming quarterback talent.
Baltimore Ravens
With Odell Beckham in town and DeAndre Hopkins still a possibility, the Baltimore Ravens no longer need to reach for a wide receiver in the first round. Depending on how the picks unfurl, the team could decide to select a pass rusher, and there is a chance that Will McDonald will be the best player left on their draft board. Nobody really knows what will happen after Will Anderson and Tyree Wilson are off the board. Will McDonald could be the third or fourth EDGE off the board, and he could have a new home in Baltimore.
Carolina Panthers
The Ravens and Panthers are likely the two ends of Will McDonald’s range of draft outcomes. While Carolina would probably love to add another offensive weapon in the second round, the team will have a hard time saying no to Will McDonald. Brian Burns is a great pass rusher, but he’s never had an impressive counterpart. That changes here, as the two would form one of the more dangerous pass rushing duos in the league.
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