The Houston Texans made a strategic move in the 2024 NFL Draft, trading with the Las Vegas Raiders to secure the No. 36 overall pick. With that selection— the fourth of the second round— Houston chose defensive tackle Kayden McDonald from Ohio State.
McDonald, one of the top defensive tackles in this year’s draft class, made an immediate impact during his lone season with the Buckeyes. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year and earned first-team All-Big Ten honors.
During his career at Ohio State, McDonald appeared in 36 games with 14 starts, accumulating:
- 11.0 tackles for loss
- 3 sacks
- 2 forced fumbles
- 3 passes defensed
His performance and accolades solidified his reputation as a dominant defensive presence. Notably, McDonald was the last player remaining in the green room in Pittsburgh following the Thursday night selections.
The Texans’ trade to acquire the No. 36 pick involved sending the Raiders two selections in return: No. 38 and No. 91. In exchange, Houston secured No. 36 and No. 117 in this year’s draft.
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