The New York Jets have some big decisions to make this offseason when it comes to the NFL Draft, free agency, and the trade market.
But some internal players cannot be ignored either. What the Jets do with a few of their veterans, or young players set to be free agents in a few years, is key. And one such player got a big update recently.
According to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, at the NFL Scouting Combine, Jets general manager Darren Mougey revealed the team expects to make a $15.3 million contract decision on former first-round pass rusher Will McDonald IV.
Jets expected to make $15.3M contract decision on Will McDonald
"Darren Mougey on Will McDonald and the idea of exercising his fifth-year option: 'Feel really good about Will and that being a possibility.'"
McDonald is coming off his third season in the NFL, where he played in 15 games, recording eight sacks with 30 total tackles and 19 quarterback hits. In his three seasons, he's put up 21.5 sacks with 72 total tackles and 48 quarterback hits.
The 26-year-old pass rusher is heading into the final year of his rookie deal. But, as a first-round pick, the Jets will have the choice to place a fifth-year option on McDonald, keeping him under contract for one more season.
According to overthecap.com, the Jets will be on the hook for $15,381,000 for McDonald in 2027 if they do decide to place the fifth-year option on their 2023 first-round pass rusher.
More: Jets expected to move on from brother of Quinnen Williams in free agency
That is a very reasonable contract for McDonald, and it could've been a lot more. If he had made more than one Pro Bowl in his first three seasons, the fifth-year option would be $28 million for McDonald.
But McDonald's 2027 fifth-year option is the basic one, and it comes in at a very reasonable $15.381 million.
Mougey indicated the Jets are planning to use that option on the 2023 15th overall selection, as they have plenty of money to work with, and McDonald has shown enough to deserve that option getting picked up.
More Jets news: