Chiefs Draft: Iowa State edge rusher Will McDonald IV
The Kansas City Chiefs have a a big offseason problem that needs addressing and they can do one thing to help solve it.
The Kansas City Chiefs are coming up on having to make a huge decision for their 2023 season. That's what the offseason is all about though, especially for teams that are going to try and repeat as Super Bowl champions like the Chiefs will try and do.
One of those important decisions has to do with Frank Clark, who could be a cap casualty candidate. Per spotrac.com, Clark could save the Chiefs $21 million in cap space. Then that would leave them with only George Karlaftis as the edge rusher that started games for the Chiefs last season.
Carlos Dunlap is getting up there in age and was only on a one-year deal with the Chiefs this past year. We have no idea what he will be doing in terms of his career.
So, the Chiefs will need someone to pair up with Karlaftis if what we think is going to happen, happens. They can do that through the draft, even at pick number 31 they can find a solution to one of their biggest offseason problems so far.
Will McDonald IV, the pass rusher from Iowa State is a guy to watch for in this draft. If he is available at pick 31, the Chiefs will get him, and I feel like I can confidently say that.
However, he is so good, and his combine tape could easily help his case to be taken earlier in the draft.
Pro Football Focus thinks highly of him as well:
McDonald can really get upfield and test an offensive tackle’s ability to get out of their stance. Combine that with his length, and it sets up anything he wants to do as an edge rusher. McDonald has all the traits to be an excellent speed rusher. You saw that whenever he was given the opportunity to pin his ears back at Iowa State. He earned a 92.6 pass-rushing grade against true pass sets this past fall. McDonald very much understands leverage in the run game, but there’s only so much he can do without more sand in the pants. He seemingly has the frame to get bigger, but we need to see it.
This just sounds like a guy the Chiefs need on the outside, and I think he would pair perfectly with Karlaftis on the opposite side. McDonald has 28 sacks in his last three seasons in college. He can also stop the run, as PFF has his run defense graded at 70.7.
The closer we get to the draft the more it seems like snagging McDonald is just a dream. However, it can happen, and if it does, the Chiefs would have one of the best young edge-rushing duos in the league, and it would only get better from there.
You can read the rest of PFF's report on Will McDonald here.
Featured Image Via Bryon Houlgrave/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK
