Ohio State Buckeyes defensive tackle Kayden McDonald is projected to go somewhere in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft. FOX Sports' Joel Klatt has McDonald going to the Chicago Bears with the No. 25 pick.
Klatt believes Bears GM Ryan Poles is going to reverse course from the last several drafts, when he took TTUN tight end Colston Loveland, Washington Huskies receiver Rome Odunze, USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams, and take some trench talent instead of a skill position player.
"The Bears went heavy on drafting skill players over the last couple of drafts, which paid off. Now, they need to address their defensive interior, especially as they can't rely on turnover luck to carry over from last year. McDonald was terrific in the interior for Ohio State, and it allowed the Buckeyes to play that odd defense. He plays with great effort and force." Klatt said.
Chicago can definitely use a talent like McDonald. In 2025, the Bears ceded 134.5 rushing yards per game and owned the 31st-ranked 42.2 PFF run-defense grade. There's perhaps not a better run-stopper in the draft this year than McDonald.
Kayden McDonald can slip in the draft because he went to Ohio State
Don't take this the wrong way, Buckeye Nation, but playing for The Ohio State University likely contributed to McDonald not being a higher draft pick. McDonald redshirted his freshman year, something he wouldn't have had to do at a smaller school with lower expectations, and didn't have a featured role until the 2025 season.
Now, on the flip side, McDonald also earned more money than he would've elsewhere to sit behind future draft picks like Michael Hall Jr. and Tyleik Williams and practice with world-class players in world-class facilities.
Either way, McDonald played too well in 2025 not to take the obvious NFL money that's awaiting him on the other side of the 2026 draft. Still, a fourth year in Columbus could've likely made him a top-10 pick.
Ultimately, it may not matter. Playing for a proven NFL entity like Matt Patricia and quickly adapting last season may be what McDonald takes with him to the next level. If he ends up in the right situation, with the right coaching, McDonald may have infinite future earning power that'll make his draft position, not to mention the designated salary at that draft position, irrelevant.