Why Texans' draft pick Kayden McDonald was crying happy tears: 'Mama don't have to work no more'

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Why Texans' draft pick Kayden McDonald was crying happy tears: 'Mama don't have to work no more' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kayden McDonald had to wait.

He was in the green room for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, but the Ohio State defensive tackle didn't get picked.

The Houston Texans changed that on Friday with the fourth pick of the second round. They traded up two spots to get McDonald.

He was almost immediately moved to tears.

"Mama don't have to work no more," ESPN's Booger McFarland explained as he watched McDonald cry on everyone's TV screens.

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McDonald has the potential to be a stud in the middle of DeMeco Ryans' defense.

"It's emotional," McDonald told ESPN's Laura Rutledge. "... Where I came from, now I'm here, it's a blessing."

He was obviously invited to the first round of the draft because most people thought he'd go in the first round. But 32 picks came and went, and McDonald had to sit back there without knowing his NFL future.

What a moment for Kayden McDonald

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Now, he's got motivation. The tears show how much this moment means. He came back for night two because he wanted to walk out and hug commissioner Roger Goodell.

But when he leaves the stage, he'll also have motivation.

There were 35 players picked in front of McDonald. He'll want to prove that wrong.

More NFL Draft news:​

• Vikings' new draft pick has 4 crazy pets
• Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors might persist for a while
• Steelers' 1st-round pick didn't play football until college
• Eagles and Cowboys have made a trade like this before
• Browns' pick is really about Shedeur Sanders' replacement

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