A look at the Kayden McDonald NFL Draft profile, including a scouting report, his college stats, highlights and a 2026 mock draft projection.
As the NFL offenses transition back to a run-first approach, creating a stalemate upfront is a must for defensive coordinators. It’s much easier said than done, which is why we are seeing premier defensive tackles getting paid big money. There are only so many humans who can log a bunch of snaps on the interior of the defensive line, so if there is a player available who can fill this role, you go and get him. That is why many teams have their attention on Kayden McDonald out of Ohio State.
Let’s take a look at our Kayden McDonald NFL Draft profile, including his scouting report, college highlights, mock draft projection and more!
Kayden McDonald NFL Draft Profile 2026
Kayden McDonald
Position: DL
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 326 lbs
Age: 21
College: Ohio State Buckeyes
Kayden McDonald College Stats 2025
It takes a lot for someone on the defensive line to stand out, but that is exactly what Kayden McDonald has done. Here are his college stats from last season:
Games: 14
Tackles: 65
Tackles for Loss: 9
Sacks: 3
Forced Fumbles: 2
Kayden McDonald Highlights
When is the 2026 NFL Draft?
The 2026 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 23, beginning at 8 p.m. ET. The draft will take place in Pittsburgh, PA. It is a football city that will provide a great backdrop for the draft festivities, but everyone is crossing their fingers that the weather cooperates. Only Round 1 will take place on Thursday. Rounds 2-3 will take place on April 24th, with the remaining four rounds wrapping up on Sunday, April 25th. There will be 257 players selected across the seven rounds, with many more getting phone calls immediately afterward.
Kayden McDonald Scouting Report
Strengths
In college, Kayden McDonald lived on the other side of the line of scrimmage. The NFL is mostly a lateral game upfront in 2026, but if McDonald has anything to say about it, then he will be disruptive in the offensive backfield. His first punch is extremely powerful, and he utilizes great leverage and an active lower body to control his man.
Along with beating his blocker, McDonald also diagnoses and pursues incredibly well for an interior defender. He’s an instinctive player, knowing when to anchor and when to shed and pursue.
Weaknesses
XMcDonald could get a bit better at taking up space and anchoring when taking on double-team blocks. He too often found himself nearly pushed back to the second level. And while McDonald has good quickness and great punching power, he must get faster and more accurate with his hands. In the NFL, he must find ways to keep opponents’ hands off of him more.
For more 2026 NFL Draft profiles, check out our NFL Draft page!
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Kayden McDonald NFL Draft Projection | Expert 2026 NFL Mock Draft Projections
The Kayden McDonald NFL Draft projections are a bit all over the board, since teams value interior defensive linemen very differently. These mock drafts for McDonald come from ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic and NFL Network.
| SOURCE | TEAM | RD | PK |
| ESPN | Raiders | 2 | 36 |
| CBS Sports | Texans | 1 | 28 |
| The Athletic | Dolphins | 1 | 30 |
| NFL Network | Falcons | 2 | 48 |
2026 NFL Draft Order | First Round
Kayden McDonald will hear his name called early in the draft, but will it be on the first day? Here is the full first-round NFL Draft order!
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Arizona Cardinals
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Giants
- Cleveland Browns
- Washington Commanders
- New Orleans Saints
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys
- Los Angeles Rams (via ATL)
- Baltimore Ravens
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- New York Jets (via IND)
- Detroit Lions
- Minnesota Vikings
- Carolina Panthers
- Dallas Cowboys (via GB)
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Cleveland Browns (via JAX)
- Chicago Bears
- Buffalo Bills
- San Francisco 49ers
- Houston Texans
- Kansas City Chiefs (via LAR)
- Miami Dolphins (via DEN)
- New England Patriots
- Seattle Seahawks
