Scouting Notes
- Plays with ELITE length.
- Extremely tough competitor.
- Nimble, with great agility and unreal shoulder moves.
- Violent with precisely placed and timed hands.
- Uses his agile and quick skills to the fullest, maximizing that aspect of the game.
- Insane bend.
- Was a constant cause of pressure on many plays.
- Quicks and hand strength are great.
- Poor lower body strength.
- Not big enough to withstand a power run block, but disengages with perfect timing to maintain positioning.
Short Summary
If I were to base my evaluation of Will McDonald on skills alone, he would be one of the best players in the draft. I wouldn’t go as far as to say his pass-rush skills are akin to Will Anderson Jr., but they aren’t miles below either. His agility and quickness are killers, and he was a constant menace for the Cyclones.
That being said, there is a laundry list of concerns. For starters, he is 25. Granted, that isn’t a death knell, but it’s far from encouraging. Additionally, and most importantly, his lack of power and bulk will be a problem. He makes up for it with athleticism, but he is in the outlier territory when it comes to his weight, which isn’t a good sign. Lastly, it feels as though he has reached his max potential. He likely won’t become a better speed rusher than he already is, and if he puts on weight he may lose his quickness, which makes him so dangerous.
If he plays in the NFL as he did in college, he should have a great career, but his playstyle combined with his size and age don’t usually translate so well. I love Will McDonald, but I am doubtful.
Scouting Card Key
- Age refers to the age of the player come draft night, rounded to the nearest half-age.
- Percentage numbers in the Player Info and Combine Stats sections – This refers to the percentile that number belongs to among all players at his position, going back nearly a decade.
- GP – Games Played
- TFLs – Tackles for Loss
- FF – Forced Fumbles
- PR Grade – Pass Rush Grade.
- PRS – Pressures.
- Missed Tackles – Missed tackle rate. Percentiles of these stats are inverse; the higher the number, the lower the percentile. Naturally, players with more playing time will rack up higher numbers, even in the rate category.
- IDL Snap% – Percentage of snaps played on the defensive interior (between the tackles).
- EDGE Snap% – Percentage of snaps played on the defensive edge (over or outside the tackle).
- Reaction – Reactionary speed.
Credit
Advanced stats – pff.com
Scouting card template / idea – Jordan Pun @Texans_Thoughts
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