Former Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald experienced an emotional rollercoaster during the NFL Draft weekend in Pittsburgh, watching 15 fellow players selected ahead of him Thursday night before finally hearing his name called by the Houston Texans.
McDonald found himself alone in the green room after all 32 first-round picks were announced Thursday evening, but his wait ended quickly Friday when Houston selected him with the 36th overall selection, fourth in the second round.
The former Buckeye, who earned consensus All-American honors this past season, became visibly emotional during his walk to the stage, pausing to touch the Texans logo on the wall before sharing a lengthy embrace with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“This is emotional,” McDonald said during the ESPN broadcast. “I know I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so blessed and thankful.”
Houston moved up two spots by trading with Las Vegas to secure McDonald, while the Raiders used the 38th pick on Arizona safety Treydan Stukes during Friday’s second and third round proceedings.
Defense dominated the second round, with 22 defensive players chosen among the 33 selections. McDonald joined six other Ohio State teammates drafted in the first two rounds, following receivers and linebackers taken Thursday.
The evening also featured a significant trade as Minnesota sent veteran linebacker Jonathan Greenard to Philadelphia in exchange for third-round picks in 2025 and 2027, plus a seventh-rounder this year.
San Francisco opened Friday’s festivities by selecting Ole Miss receiver De’Zhaun Stribling, who previously played at Washington State and Oklahoma State during his college career.
Two additional wide receivers went in round two: Washington’s Denzel Boston to Cleveland at 39th overall and Alabama’s Germie Bernard to Pittsburgh with the 47th selection.
Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, another player projected as a possible first-rounder, went 37th to the New York Giants and shared similar sentiments about the wait.
“Of course it was disappointing,” Hood explained. “I know God does everything for a reason. He was probably preventing me from something or he had something better in store for me, and that being the Giants. I’m super excited to go into this next chapter of my life and will just go in there and give my best and give my all and be the best version of myself.”
Hood also spent time at Auburn and Colorado during his collegiate career.
Miami potentially secured one of the round’s top values by selecting Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with the 43rd pick. Rodriguez, the face of the Red Raiders’ remarkable season, won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defender while leading the country with seven forced fumbles and adding four interceptions.
Atlanta created a family reunion at pick 48, selecting Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell, younger brother of Falcons veteran starter A.J. Terrell, who enters his seventh season with the franchise.
The New York Jets chose Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Ponds 50th overall. The 5-foot-8 defensive back transferred from James Madison to follow coach Curt Cignetti to Indiana, where he became a key contributor to the Hoosiers’ championship run.
Ohio State’s draft success continued beyond McDonald, with tight end Max Klare going 61st to the Los Angeles Rams and cornerback Davison Igbinosun selected 62nd by Buffalo in back-to-back picks near round’s end.
Super Bowl champion Seattle concluded the second round by taking TCU safety Bud Clark with the 64th and final selection.
