K-Mac to H-Town
The Houston Texans draft Kayden McDonald with the No. 36 overall pick.
Kayden McDonald had to stay in Pittsburgh for a second day to walk across the NFL draft stage, but he didn’t have to wait long once Day 2 began.
The Houston Texans selected McDonald with the No. 36 overall pick in Friday night’s second round of the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh. The Texans traded up two spots for the opportunity to draft McDonald, leaping the New York Giants – who would have been a target to draft him after trading Dexter Lawrence to the Cincinnati Bengals – for the chance to draft the former Ohio State defensive tackle.
K-MAC H-TOWN pic.twitter.com/sHTDc4QgDj
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 24, 2026
Developed Here!! pic.twitter.com/Zjx2V6G2jU
— Ryan Day (@ryandaytime) April 24, 2026
McDonald is the fifth Buckeye off the board in this year’s draft, joining Carnell Tate, Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles and Caleb Downs.
Kayden McDonald after the Houston Texans selected him with the No. 36 overall pick: Im just so blessed. I'm just so thankful. Im just so emotional. Where I came from, and now Im here, it's just a blessing.pic.twitter.com/30jQPfzUFk
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) April 24, 2026
McDonald will join fellow former Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai on the Texans’ defensive line, joining a roster that also includes former Buckeye quarterback C.J. Stroud and tight end Cade Stover.
McDonald is the fourth Ohio State defensive tackle to be drafted in the last three years, joining Tyleik Williams (Round 1 in 2025, Lions), Ty Hamilton (Round 5 in 2025, Rams) and Michael Hall Jr. (Round 2 in 2024, Browns).
Ohio State's 2026 NFL Draft Picks
- Carnell Tate: Round 1, No. 4, Tennessee Titans
- Arvell Reese: Round 1, No. 5, New York Giants
- Sonny Styles: Round 1, No. 7, Washington Commanders
- Caleb Downs: Round 1, No. 11, Dallas Cowboys
- Kayden McDonald: Round 2, No. 36, Houston Texans
McDonald goes to the NFL after recording 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks during the 2025 season. He earned unanimous All-American honors, joining Jim Stillwagon as the only two unanimous All-American defensive tackles in Ohio State history. McDonald was also named first-team All-Big Ten and the conference's Defensive Lineman of the Year.
According to Pro Football Focus, McDonald’s 87.7 overall grade ranked eighth among 887 qualified interior defensive linemen in 2025. At 6-foot-3 and 326 pounds, he consistently occupied space and led the nation with a 92 run defense grade. There’s still room for growth at the next level as a pass rusher, however, as his 61.2 grade ranked No. 432 nationally.
Now that he’s officially an NFL player, McDonald will set his sights on achieving even bigger goals.
“10 years in the league, I want to do all that. I'm not satisfied with just going to the draft. I'm ready to go play football,” McDonald told Eleven Warriors.
