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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - DECEMBER 06: Ohio State Buckeyes DL Kayden McDonald (98) during the Big Ten Championship football game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 6, 2025 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Cincinnati Bengals are clearly trying to shore up the interior of their defensive line.
First IDL Peter Woods from Clemson confirmed he met with the Bengals.
And now Ohio State DT Kayden McDonald has confirmed he met with Cincinnati as well.
While McDonald might not be worth the 10th overall pick, it’s possible the Bengals are keeping all options open, including trading down or picking him up in the second round.
McDonald’s strengths:According to his profile on NFL.com, McDonald is a talented run defender who plays with natural leverage and was even compared to former Bengals standout DJ Reader. He gets more than his share of tackles for a loss at his position. He also has very good change-of-direction quickness in small spaces.
And Bleacher Report’s Draft profile includes that he is thick with a good build. He has solid get-off, quick reaction, and decent acceleration, and his quickness lets him recover in the run game.
McDonald’s weaknesses: He doesn’t really collapse the pocket, according to NFL.com. He also doesn’t get hands-on defenders quickly enough or gain enough width on lateral slide steps.
And, according to Bleacher Report, his block recognition is subpar. He also has a tendency to stand up out of his stance and play with a narrow base.
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