Kayden McDonald was drafted No. 36 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Career totals post once the class takes the field.
2026 NFL Draft · Rd 2, Pick 4 · #36 overall
Kayden McDonald Ohio State Draft
Kayden McDonald was drafted No. 36 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Ohio State. Career totals post once the class takes the field.
- Overall pick
- #36
- Round
- 2
- Draft class
- 2026
The pick
How Kayden McDonald came off the board in 2026.
- Position
- Defensive tackle DT
- College
-
Ohio State
Big Ten at the draft
- Measurables
- 6'2" · 326 lbs
- Hometown
- Suwanee, GA
- Pre-draft board
- No. 26 prospect87.0 grade
- Side of the ball
- Defense
NFL career
Career totals post once the class takes the field.
No regular-season career on record yet.
Games, starts, and approximate value appear here once the season data lands.
See the rest of the 2026 classAround pick 36
Who came off the board on either side of Kayden McDonald.
Texas A&M
Clemson
Tennessee
Arizona
Ohio State in the 2026 draft
Teammates who went in the same class.
Carnell Tate
WR · TEN
Ohio State
#5
Arvell Reese
LB · NYG
Ohio State
#7
Sonny Styles
LB · WAS
Ohio State
#11
Caleb Downs
S · DAL
Ohio State
#61
Max Klare
TE · LAR
Ohio State
#62
Davison Igbinosun
CB · BUF
Ohio State
#87
Will Kacmarek
TE · MIA
Ohio State
#172
Lorenzo Styles Jr.
S · NO
Ohio State
#214
Caden Curry
DE · IND
Ohio State
#231
Ethan Onianwa
G · ATL
Ohio State
Other DT picks from Ohio State
The program's most accomplished players at the same spot.
About this draft profile
Last updated Aug 24, 2026
Kayden McDonald in the 2026 NFL Draft
Kayden McDonald is a Defensive tackle out of Ohio State selected No. 36 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2026 NFL Draft. Career totals post once the class takes the field. Ohio State has produced 284 NFL draft picks since 1980.
Where this data comes from
Pick order and career outcomes come from the nflverse draft archive; position, measurables, and conference at the time of the draft come from the college feed. Career columns stay empty until a player logs regular-season snaps.
Frequently asked questions
Where was Kayden McDonald drafted?
Kayden McDonald was selected No. 36 overall by the Houston Texans in the 2026 NFL Draft (Rd 2, Pick 4). Full pick detail at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2026/kayden-mcdonald.
What college did Kayden McDonald play for?
Kayden McDonald played college football at Ohio State in the Big Ten. See every Ohio State draft pick at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/schools/ohio-state-buckeyes.
How did Kayden McDonald's NFL career turn out?
Career totals post once the class takes the field. Career outcome data at https://fantasyhq.co/cfb-hq/draft-history/players/2026/kayden-mcdonald.