Top edge rusher prospect confirmed as a Cowboys' top-30 visit
The Dallas Cowboys aren't hurting for edge rushers by any means with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and Dorance Armstrong on the roster. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn isn't one to get complacent though and he was recently seen working with edge rusher Will McDonald IV at Iowa State's Pro Day. Whatever Quinn wants […]
The Dallas Cowboys aren't hurting for edge rushers by any means with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, and Dorance Armstrong on the roster.
Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn isn't one to get complacent though and he was recently seen working with edge rusher Will McDonald IV at Iowa State's Pro Day.
Whatever Quinn wants he seems to get since he's been in Dallas, and McDonald could be the next example of that. NFL draft savant Voch Lombardi announced that a source confirmed to him that McDonald will have a top-30 visit with the Cowboys.
There's been a plethora of players linked to the Cowboys with the 26th overall pick like TCU offensive lineman Steve Avila, Boston College wide receiver Zay Flowers, and even Texas running back Bijan Robinson. McDonald, despite the Cowboys' weaponry at edge rusher, is certainly in that discussion, and not just because Quinn is infatuated with him.
McDonald logged 1,505 snaps during his career with the Cyclones, and he wasn't confined to one spot. The majority of his work came as an edge rusher with 1,478 plays in that area according to Pro Football Focus. However, he also registered 21 snaps in the box and four in the slot. Simply put, the guy is versatile.
When McDonald was getting after quarterbacks, it was scary hours for them. McDonald racked up 35 sacks at Iowa State with 20 quarterback hits and 72 hurries as well.
Another draft guru, James Foster of A To Z Sports Film Room, did a breakdown of McDonald's game back in February, and here's some of what he discovered.
"Will McDonald IV is an edge rusher out of Iowa State and he's one of the best athletes regardless of position in this entire draft class," said Foster. "At 6'3" and a half 241 pounds he has 35-inch arms and a confirmed 42-inch vertical. And judging by his bend and flexibility I expect him to test really well in the three-cone and short shuttle.
"So really outside of his weight, he has the ideal athletic profile for an NFL edge defender. And he was playing out of position at Iowa State. They were using him as a base defensive end with his hand in the ground but in the NFL his best fit is playing as a stand-up edge rusher. And he's not the most technically proficient pass rusher, you don't see him use a wide range of pass rushing moves, but the moves he does use he executes really well."
If the Cowboys take him in the first round, quarterbacks beware.