The Ohio State football program had one of the best defenses in the country all season long. Statistically, they had the best defense in the country. Yet, they were bounced in the Cotton Bowl by Miami, despite having potentially four or five first-round picks on that defense.
A couple of those first-round picks have already declared for the 2026 NFL Draft. Caleb Downs, the consensus best defensive player in the country, has declared. Arvell Reese also decided to leave for the NFL after having a breakout season in his only year as a starter for the Buckeyes.
Kayden McDonald is considered by many to be a projected first-round pick. There were reports that McDonald was 50/50 on whether or not he was going to return for next season. Now, he has made the decision to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald declares for the NFL Draft
McDonald had a breakout season during his junior campaign, showing the ability to clog the middle on run plays and push the pocket on pass plays. Replacing him will not be easy for the Buckeyes. Especially after losing a couple of players to the Transfer Portal.
While the Buckeyes weren't necessarily expecting McDonald back, the fact that he was so close to coming back hurts. Now, he will make an NFL team very happy for the next decade or so. As for Ohio State, they now have a big hole in the middle that they have to find a way to plug.
Ryan Day has several needs that he still has to address with the portal. It hasn't worked well for the team so far, but the Buckeyes need to be more active. After two straight seasons of dominant defense, that unit is poised for a sizable step backward if it can't address some major holes.