Kayden McDonald Using Fall Out Of First Round As Motivation

Former Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald watched as four of his Buckeye teammates were drafted in the first round, hoping to hear his name called later on that night at the NFL draft.

However, the first 32 picks came and went, and McDonald’s name wasn’t called.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with McDonald and invited him back for the second night of the draft, which the former Buckeye accepted, and he didn’t have to wait long into the second round to finally learn his new team.

McDonald said after his first practice with the Houston Texans, who selected him with the fourth pick of the night and the 36th overall pick of the draft, that he’s using his fall to the second round as motivation in his first year.

“Most definitely,” he said. “Every day I’m coming in and helping my team win a Super Bowl. That’s why they drafted me.”

McDonald has big goals in his first season, which should come as no surprise to Buckeye fans.

“Win a Super Bowl, Rookie of the Year, All-Pro first year,” he said. “These are realistic for me. I wrote these down. I’m blessed to be here and I’ve got a chance.”

McDonald had a breakout junior season with the Buckeyes in 2025, becoming one of three unanimous All-Americans on the team alongside Caleb Downs and Jeremiah Smith. McDonald finished the year with 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass defended and two forced fumbles.

He was a large part of the defense being able to repeat as the best in the country in both scoring and total defense despite having to replace eight starters from the 2024 season.

McDonald’s presence up the middle also helped OSU become the No. 7 rushing defense in the country, allowing just 89.4 yards per game on the ground.

Now McDonald joins former Buckeyes C.J. Stroud, Cade Stover and Tommy Togiai in Houston in hopes of getting back to the playoffs for the fourth straight season to make a run for the franchise’s first Super Bowl title. That was something McDonald emphasized after his first practice.

“We’ve all got energy and enthusiasm,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity. At the end of the day, we want to get to L.A. and win a Super Bowl.”

McDonald is confident that he will be able to adjust to the league because he is willing to be coached.

“(The attention to detail from coaches) is different just because you’re in the National Football League,” McDonald said. “You follow what the coaches do and things are going to work out. I’m super coachable and we’re going to work.”

McDonald said that its beginning to sink in that he’s a pro now.

“You can’t take this for granted,” he said. “I’m walking out here today and it’s like, ‘This is your first day in the NFL.’ It’s not a game anymore. It’s a job, and you have to take that seriously.”