Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Billy Riccette

Robert Saleh says Jets would have drafted Will McDonald at 13

The New York Jets drafted Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald with the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Some thought that was mostly because all the top offensive tackle prospects were off the board by the time the Jets got on the clock after the Steelers traded up to select Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones.

If you ask head coach Robert Saleh, none of that mattered. The Jets were set on McDonald, even if they had stayed at No. 13 before the Aaron Rodgers trade that included the pick swap.

“The difference between 13 and 15 in the way everything shook out made no difference to us,” Saleh told Rich Eisen on his show last week (via NBC Sports)

The Jets have raved about McDonald since the moment they drafted him. He was clearly high on their board. Perhaps even ahead of Jones, who would have been available the Jets stayed at No. 13. But this feels like a scene from the movie “Draft Day”, where it was Will McDonald, no matter what.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.