Feb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (DL21) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

New York Giants Draft Prospect Profile: DL Kayden McDonald, Ohio State

Originally posted on New York Giants on SI
By Nick Falato | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 10:00 AM ET

Kayden McDonald, DL

Height: 6’2”
Weight: 326 lbs
Class: Junior
School: Ohio State
Hands: 9 ¾”
Arm length: 32 ¼”
STATS

A former four-star recruit out of North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia, where he was the 12th recruit from his state and the 18th defensive linemen during the 2023 recruiting cycle. McDonald had over 35 scholarship offers and chose Ohio State.

McDonald played 695 defensive snaps through his three seasons as a Buckeye. He played 448 snaps in 2025, which doubled the amount that he had in the previous season.

McDonald had 14 pressures and 33 STOPs in 2025, with just two missed tackles (3.3% missed tackle rate). McDonald was a Unanimous All-American in 2025 and he is a College Football Champion (2024). He was the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2025 and was First-Team All Big-Ten.

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Strengths

Elite size and girth with solid length
Well proportioned IDL with wide base
Very good athlete with excellent explosiveness
Excellent change of direction and agility on LOS
Good first step into contact – VIOLENT
Sufficient quickness to penetrate/shoot gaps
Good footwork on the line of scrimmage
Fires off the football with excellent force into contact
Elite hand pop and jolt
Elite block shedding w/ two-gap ability
Elite short-yard run stopper
Strong POA skills + excellent eyes
Excellent overall run defender
Difficult to move on the LOS
Eats combo blocks like Doritos – when base is low
Finds soft spot between COMBO w/ good leverage
Solid vs. down blocks at POA
Can push the pocket as a pass rusher
Solid bull-rusher
Heavy hammer ability in twists
Space eater in run game + good eyes to flow to contain pocket
Gets his hands in the air

Weaknesses

Could play with lower base which would prevent conceding ground against well-timed combo blocks
Lacks pass rushing skills – more of a pocket pusher
Gets tied up too easily as a pass rusher
Doesn’t have precise hands or go to pass rushering moves
Power isn’t always immediately unlocked
Ability to counter is below-average
Only one year of production
Never exceeded 500 snaps in a season
Will fatigue be an issue?

Summary

Kayden McDonald is an ideal run stuffing nose-tackle with serious knock-back strength and a gravitational pull that allows him to two-gap; he occupies the A-gaps well with excellent shedding ability to quickly locate and drag ball-carriers down.

He is a commanding presence vs. the run, and one whose ceiling could grow if he consistently played with a lower-hat – he generally has good leverage, though. 65 tackles for a nose tackle (33 being STOPs) are just INSANE numbers to post.

McDonald will IMMEDIATELY improve a team’s run defense, but his ability as a pass-rusher is based more on his ability to push the pocket with power moves.

He is not refined as a rusher and leaves some to be desired, but he still possesses elite strength and contact balance to threaten and execute his assignments sufficiently as a pass-rusher, while being a heavy hammer in stunts.

Overall, McDonald has rare run defending traits and is still just 21 years old. He will be an immediate contributor to a team’s ability to win the trenches + some.

GRADE: 6.72

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This article first appeared on New York Giants on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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