As happy as they are with having nabbed linebacker Arvell Reese and offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa in Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the New York Giants still have a Dexter Lawrence-sized hold in the middle of their defensive line.
Sticking out on the draft board entering night two as a player who could fill at least part of that considerable hole is Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, a 6-foot-2⅛, 326-pound behemoth who was not selected in Round 1.
Would the Giants, with the fifth pick
in Round 2, No. 37 overall, move up on Friday night to select McDonald?
Todd McShy of The Ringer thinks they might. In a section of his subscriber-only newsletter titled “Don’t be surprsied if …”, McShay led off with the idea that the Giants could move to the first pick in Round 2 (No. 33 overall, currently held by the San Francisco 49ers) to grab McDonald. McShay wrote:
After trading Dexter Lawrence II to the Bengals for the no. 10 pick, the Giants have a real need along the interior defensive line. I have them picking McDonald in my flash mock above, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trade up a few spots to ensure they get their guy. McDonald is the best IDL left on my board, and I expect there to be a run on the position before they pick again in the fourth round.
The San Francisco 49ers, who have the 33rd overall pick after a Thursday trade with the New York Jets, are said to be “very open” to moving back from that spot.
Here is part of what McShay wrote about McDonald in his scouting report:
McDonald is an outstanding run defender and a deceptively disruptive pass rusher. He’s a scheme-versatile nose tackle who locates the ball, gets off blocks, and wraps up. He has the size, strength, and low center of gravity to hold his ground when he plays with good pad level, but he doesn’t just take up space and clog the middle. He’s quick for his size and slips blocks—he had 65 tackles last season (fifth best at Ohio State), including nine TFL. He didn’t run at the combine, and he doesn’t have great range, but he chases with good effort.
He’s a better run defender than pass rusher, but he had three sacks in 2025, and he can affect the quarterback. He’s a powerful bull rusher who can push the pocket and get off blocks at the top of his rush. He flashes the ability to win with his hands. He doesn’t gear down when he gets doubled and doesn’t always win with his first move. His arms are short, but he gets his hands up when he isn’t going to reach the quarterback.
He’s quicker than he is fast, and he’s tight in space, which hinders his ability to finish as a pass rusher. He plays high and gives up ground on occasion. He’s an ascending player coming off a breakout junior season in 2025, when he was named a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten Conference’s Defensive Lineman of the Year.
McDonald is a day-one starter with Pro Bowl potential, and Kenny Clark is an interesting comp. Their frames are different, but both get off blocks and make plays despite having short arms. Clark had 75 tackles and 11 TFL in his final year at UCLA.
A complicating factor for the Giants is they don’t have a third-round pick, so they don’t have much in the way of 2026 draft assets to trade. Do they think enough of McDonald to offer a 2027 mid-round pick?
If the Giants want McDonald, the key will be judging whether or not they can get him at No. 37, the fifth pick of Round 2. Or, if defensive tackle is what they want in this spot, are they comfortable with Lee Hunter of Texas Tech or Christen Miller of Georgia. Miller is a player the Giants hosted in East Rutherford, N.J. for a ‘30’ visit.
