Chiefs draft profile: Kayden McDonald has the frame and floor to thrive

It’s not very often that a fan base is accurate about roster construction and roster moves. Considering the vast amount of knowledge, experience, and resources an NFL front office has, the assumption that “they know more” than the fans works most of the time. However, Kansas City Chiefs fans might have been right about the team’s approach to defensive tackle.

Dating back to drafting Keondre Coburn, trading for Neil Farrell, letting Derrick Nnadi go in free agency only to trade for him later, and not putting Mike Pennel on the 53-man roster, the whole process was messy and a clear misstep from the beginning.

Even with the Chiefs spending a second-round pick on Omarr Norman-Lott, the process was confusing. They took a part-time, passing-down player and tried to bulk him up to be a run-stuffing nose tackle rather than leaning into what he did best at Tennessee. All of this leaves the last best years of Chris Jones feeling wasted if he’s not allowed to be dominant. So how can the Chiefs fix it?

The Chiefs can make two players better by bringing in a true run-stopping force along the interior. That would allow Chris Jones to do what he does best on passing downs while letting Omarr Norman-Lott focus on what he did best in college as a pass rusher. Regardless, the Chiefs have to get better against the run.

To keep close tabs on the 2026 NFL Draft and the top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs, make sure to bookmark our Arrowhead Addict Big Board. Our custom big board is tailored towards the Chiefs' needs and thresholds.

NFL Draft Profile: Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State

Age: 22 (on draft day)

Height: 6-3 (listed)

Weight: 326 LBS (listed)

Tape Exposure: Texas (2025), Wisconsin (2025), Indiana (2025)

Shades of: Derrick Brown

Kayden McDonald's background

Born and raised in Suwanee, Georgia, McDonald was a four-star recruit via 247Sports. He received offers from 35 other schools before eventually committing to Ohio State. He was ranked as the 18th overall defensive line prospect coming out of high school.

McDonald played sparingly as a freshman, appearing in only four games. His sophomore year, he was a role player on the national championship roster, finishing with 1.5 tackles for loss. His junior year in 2025 was his breakout season, recording 9.5 tackles for loss and three sacks for one of the nation’s best defenses. McDonald declared for the NFL on January 9, 2026.

What makes Kayden McDonald such a high floor prospect

Play Strength

McDonald has the raw lower-body strength to hold up against double teams and anchor at the point of attack. Even on reps where he doesn’t show up in the box score, his run-gap integrity is superb. His lower half is an anchor that rarely gets moved, and he still has the strength to shed blockers.

First Step

He has a few snaps per game that ruin a play before it ever gets going. There are moments where it feels like he could take the handoff from the quarterback instead of the running back. At times, he wins so quickly that he isn’t even sure what to do once he’s in the backfield.

Frame

With tree trunks for legs, long arms, and plenty of size, he has an ideal frame to remain a force along the interior defensive line. Despite his size, he is an athlete who moves well laterally and has fast feet that never stop in the run game.

Is Kayden McDonald worth a first-round pick?

Limited pass rush profile

McDonald is currently little more than a pocket pusher as a pass rusher. If he doesn’t win off the snap, the rush is essentially over aside from holding lane integrity. His body language reflects that limitation as well, showing a low motor on passing downs.

Technique

At times, McDonald can get narrow with his base and abandon technique. He keeps his hands very low at the point of attack, which can hurt his ability to win with leverage. When he does win quickly off the snap, his eyes can get bigger than his stomach, and he struggles to finish plays.

Level of Competition

Most of McDonald’s best reps and production come against lower-level guards or teams. He was not nearly as impactful against top-level competition, such as Penn State’s Olaivavega Ioane.

How does Kayden McDonald fit the Kansas City Chiefs?

Kayden McDonald at pick No. 9 might be a little rich. He’s a good player, but the gap between him and other run stuffers isn’t that wide, and the pass-rush upside is limited. However, if the Chiefs trade down or acquire additional first-round picks, he could make a lot of sense later in the round. Ultimately, the Chiefs have to land high-floor players in this draft to extend the Patrick Mahomes window as much as possible.

McDonald is a math-changing run defender with an explosive first step and a lower body that moves people. His upper-body strength allows him to grip and rip blockers at the point of attack. His limited pass-rush tools and motor cap his ceiling, but his high floor as a run defender should make him an early contributor for most NFL defenses.

Round Grade: Purple Chip (1st round pick)