All articles tagged with #kayden mcdonald
University of Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood left the NFL draft floor after not hearing his name called in the first round, choosing not to return for Friday’s rounds, while Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald planned to stay for the second and third rounds.
Defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, one of two players who went undrafted on Thursday after attending the draft in Pittsburgh, will return for Friday's second night in hopes of an early second-round selection, per Adam Schefter; he tallied 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks for Ohio State last season.
The New York Giants may trade up from No. 37 in Round 2 to draft Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald, seen as a disruptive run defender with pass-rush potential, to shore up the interior of their defensive line after addressing two other needs in Round 1. A scenario floated by McShay could send the Giants to No. 33, but with no third-round pick they’ll face asset limitations and may weigh alternatives like Lee Hunter or Christen Miller if the move doesn’t materialize.
With No. 37 looming on Day 2 of the NFL Draft, the Giants’ board centers on interior DL Kayden McDonald, CB Colton Hood, hybrid Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, safety A.J. Haulcy, and WR Denzel Boston as they navigate a four-team market after passing on Caleb Downs for Mauigoa (Day 1).
In a no-trades, seven-round mock for the 2026 NFL Draft, the Bills address interior DL, LB depth, WR depth, and secondary need with a value-first approach: Kayden McDonald at 26 to anchor the interior; Keyshaun Elliott at 91 to contribute early; Jeff Caldwell at 126 to add a tall, fast receiving option; Beau Stephens at 165 for guard/OL depth; Hezekiah Masses at 168 for developmental CB; Taylen Green at 182 as a developmental QB; and George Gumbs Jr. at 220 as a high-upside edge/DE, resulting in a B overall grade for a class with no trades.
Mel Kiper’s latest ESPN mock has the Chicago Bears at 25th and prioritizes interior defensive-line help, with Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald as a leading fit to bolster the run defense. The piece argues DT is the bigger immediate need (over edge), cites other potential first‑round DTs like Peter Woods and Caleb Banks as options, and notes that Chicago’s draft approach should continue to build through the trenches after last year’s Loveland and Burden selections.