Overview
- The Jets, which announced the move Wednesday, exercised Will McDonald IV’s fifth-year option to keep the edge rusher under contract through 2027.
- A fifth-year option applies only to first-round picks and lets a team lock in a preset fifth season without negotiating a new deal.
- Reports differ on McDonald’s 2027 salary, with Bleacher Report citing $14.5 million and The Athletic projecting $13.75 million, and his 2026 cap hit is roughly $5.1–$5.2 million.
- New York declined defensive tackle Mazi Smith’s option that would have paid $13.9 million in 2027, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, and he is set to earn about $2.6 million this season.
- Smith logged no defensive stats in three Jets games after arriving in the 2025 trade that sent Quinnen Williams to Dallas, signaling he is not in the long-term plan.