The 2025 Ohio State Buckeyes fielded the best scoring defense in college football-full stop. That unit was a brick wall all season, stifling opponents week after week.
But even the most dominant defense can’t win games alone, and that reality hit hard in Columbus. Despite their defensive prowess, the Buckeyes dropped their final two games of the season-first to Indiana and then to Miami-costing them both a shot at the Big Ten crown and a place in the national title picture.
Let’s be clear: the defense wasn’t the issue. In those two critical losses, Ohio State’s offense managed just 24 points combined.
That kind of output simply doesn’t cut it, especially when your defense is doing everything short of scoring the points themselves. Still, the individual talent on that defensive side of the ball hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Several Buckeye defenders are projected to be first-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft-and four of them are even getting top-10 buzz.
One of those players, Kayden McDonald, was a cornerstone of that elite defensive front. He was the engine in the middle-stuffing the run, collapsing the pocket, and consistently creating havoc at the line of scrimmage. But despite his résumé and tape, McDonald’s draft stock has taken a curious dip in at least one major projection.
In a recent mock draft from ESPN’s Matt Miller, McDonald slides just outside the first round, landing at No. 33 overall. That’s technically a second-round pick, and it’s a surprising shift for a player who anchored the top scoring defense in the country.
Miller’s reasoning? The Senior Bowl.
While McDonald had a solid week, it was Florida’s Caleb Banks who stole the spotlight. Banks, who played just two games in 2025 due to a foot injury, made a big impression during Senior Bowl practices.
Scouts reportedly loved the burst and power he showed-traits that had them buzzing before the season even began. That late surge has Banks leapfrogging McDonald on some draft boards, at least for now.
But let’s not forget what McDonald brings to the table. He’s not just a space-eater in the middle-he’s a disruptor.
His ability to collapse the interior line and force offenses to adjust was a major reason Ohio State’s defense was so effective. He may not have had a viral Senior Bowl moment, but his body of work speaks volumes.
And don’t be surprised if McDonald reminds everyone of that at the NFL Combine. While it’s still unclear whether he’ll participate in all the drills-many top prospects now opt to perform at their Pro Days-he’s expected to test well. His size, strength, and quickness off the snap could easily vault him back into the first-round conversation.
Bottom line: Kayden McDonald is still very much a first-round talent. One mock draft doesn’t define a player’s future, and NFL teams know what kind of impact he can make in the trenches. Come April, don’t be shocked if his name is called on Day 1.