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Kayden McDonald

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Kayden McDonald
No. 93 – Houston Texans
PositionDefensive tackle
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2005-03-12) March 12, 2005 (age 21)[1]
Texarkana, Arkansas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight326 lb (148 kg)
Career information
High schoolNorth Gwinnett (Suwanee, Georgia)
CollegeOhio State (2023–2025)
NFL draft2026: 2nd round, 36th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kayden McDonald (born March 12, 2005)[1] is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.

Early life

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McDonald was born in Texarkana, Arkansas and grew up in the Atlanta area.[2][3] He attended North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, Georgia. McDonald was rated as a four star recruit, and the 290th overall player in the class of 2023, where he committed to play college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes over offers from 35 other schools.[4]

College career

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As a freshman in 2023, McDonald appeared in four games, making one tackle.[5] In week 2 of the 2024 season, McDonald tallied three tackles in a win over Western Michigan.[6] In week 10, he notched one tackle, helping the Buckeyes stop the Nittany Lions from scoring on third down late in the fourth quarter, to help the Buckeyes survive beating Penn State 20-13.[7] During the 2024 season, McDonald played in all 16 games, recording 19 tackles with two being for a loss, and a pass deflection.[8][9]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span Wingspan Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		 326 lb
(148 kg)		 32+1⁄4 in
(0.82 m)		 9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 6 ft 6+1⁄8 in
(1.98 m)		 27 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[10][11]

McDonald was selected by the Houston Texans with the 36th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL draft.[12] On May 9, 2026, he signed a four-year, $12.9 million contract with the Texans.[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Davenport, Richard (10 March 2022). "Get to know: 4-star DT target Kayden McDonald". The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  2. ^ West, Danny (February 11, 2022). "4-star DT has ties to Arkansas, plans to visit". 247Sports. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  3. ^ Davenport, Richard (2022-02-18). "THE RECRUITING GUY: Recruit's family thrilled by Hogs' offer". Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  4. ^ Means, Stephen (1 December 2022). "Kayden McDonald National Signing Day 2023 player profile: Ohio State football recruiting". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  5. ^ Krajisnik, Stefan (September 19, 2024). "Jim Knowles warned about a breakout candidate for Ohio State football. And he was right". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  6. ^ Anders, Andy (September 14, 2024). "Kayden McDonald Emerging As Third Defensive Tackle in Buckeyes' Rotation". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  7. ^ Krajisnik, Stefan (November 7, 2024). "A backup defensive tackle is emerging as a game-wrecker for Ohio State football: Buckeye Bits". Cleveland.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  8. ^ Helwagen, Steve (March 13, 2025). "OSU's Kayden McDonald ready to compete for starting job at defensive tackle". 247Sports. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  9. ^ Schmidt, Matthew (February 9, 2025). "Ohio State Buckeyes' Rising Star Reveals Huge Goal for 2025". Ohio State Buckeyes on SI. SI.com. Retrieved 6 July 2025.
  10. ^ Reuter, Chad; Zierlein, Lance. "Kayden McDonald Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  11. ^ "Kayden McDonald College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved February 26, 2026.
  12. ^ "PICK IS IN: DT Kayden McDonald from Ohio State drafted at No. 36 overall". HoustonTexans.com. April 24, 2026. Retrieved 25 April 2026.
  13. ^ Simmons, Myles (May 9, 2026). "Texans, second-round pick Kayden McDonald agree to rookie contract". NBC Sports. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
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