Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese -Will McDonald IV, Iowa State University

Despite all the pre-draft hype, First Round Mock’s William Yanish is not seeing Iowa State EDGE Will McDonald IV as a first-round value.

There are some college players that just don’t explode out of nowhere. These are the ones that have to use a good old fashioned work ethic to build themselves into who they are as a player. This happens through hard work and experience without the flashy demeanor.

It’s a classic example of just wanting to play football.

It’s kind of like the menu at McDonald’s. There are rarities that pop up from time to time. For example, the McRib sandwich. It’s something that you don’t see for long, but when it does come around it’s a pleasant surprise and it’s just so darn good.

Then there’s the eye candy. The new, sexy picks like the Bacon Ranch McCrispy Chicken Sandwich. It looks so darn tantalizing when you first see it. However, you can’t be sure how good it is, until you bite into it.

Then there are the old favorites, like the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. These are the ones that have been around forever, and they just keep satisfying over and over again.

Will McDonald IV

Then there are the Iowa State EDGE defender Will McDonald IV’s of the world.

McDonald is an experienced long and lanky 6-foot-4, 240 pound redshirt senior from Hudson, Wisconsin.

He’s been good long enough that he owns school records for the most sacks (34) in Iowa State history, along with the most sacks (11.5) over the course season in 2021. This bested his own previous mark of 10.5 in 2020.

McDonald is blue chip type that isn’t overly athletic. He has some boom and is savvy enough to get where he is going. However, he doesn’t have a lot of raw, brute power, which is noticeable on film.

What the game film looked like

His arms reach out 34 7/8″ inches. To put that into perspective, the similar body-sized Cowboys’ linebacker (LB) Micah Parsons only possesses 31 1/2” arms. He gets those long arms up to obstruct passing lanes.

McDonald’s motor doesn’t run at 100% all of the time. He has a knack for becoming a ghost at times.

However, this Iowa State defender can crank it up when he wants to. He can play defensive end in a 4-3 (four down linemen, three LB) scheme, and any linebacker position on defense.

McDonald has ignition off the snap, satisfactory bend, active hands and a ton of flex releasing around the corner.

He has a vast repertoire of pass rush moves at his disposal which he uses like a technician. Additionally, he possesses a formidable spin move that he also uses to shed blocks versus running plays.

McDonald reacts with good intent versus the run.

However, he can get pushed around by stronger offensive linemen. When he gets in position, he’s a good tackler who plays bigger than he actually is. Once he’s committed to a play, he usually finishes.

In terms of pass coverage, he has good enough coverage skills that he certainly is not a liability in this department.

My take

McDonald is a good solid player with “superstar potential.” In a deep draft for EDGE rushers, he will be selected without huge expectations. This defender is a solid value pick who will make a team look good. His experience makes McDonald an immediate plug-and-play prospect.

McDonald is a jack-of-all trades type pass rusher. He is good at everything, but not outstanding specifically at any one thing. He will probably put in the work to become a decent starter in this league, and become a good pro.

Although, just how good he will be is entirely dependent on himself.

My BIG three questions

1. Will the team that drafts him cater to his Swiss-Army like qualities, or will they just be content using him as a situational pass rusher?
2. Will he put on some more muscle to become more effective at shedding blocks?
3. Will he crank up his effort to transform into a Big Mac at the next level, or will he just be happy with the status quo?

How McDonald stacks up and game film reviewed

My Draft Value: Second-Round

Pro comparison: former San Francisco 49ers LB Aldon Smith

Game film reviewed:

West Virginia ’20

Clemson ’21

Iowa ’21

Texas ’22

Baylor ’22

William Yanish III is a life long football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.