The Kansas City Chiefs need to add depth along their interior defensive line. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s unit lacks a dominant interior force in the run game. Players like Chris Jones and Omarr Norman-Lott excel at rushing the passer but would benefit from a running mate capable of handling double teams and impacting the point of attack.
Ohio State Buckeyes nose tackle Kayden McDonald is unofficially listed at 6’3″, 326 lbs. He’s a densely built lineman who sometimes kicks out to 3-tech but primarily operates deep in the interior from 0-tech to 2-tech. McDonald projects as a two-down nose tackle who will see action on run downs and bring renewed power to Kansas City’s defense.
McDonald offers very little as a pass rusher. He posts some quick wins with a swim or club-swim and uses his powerful upper body and leg drive to push the pocket. McDonald’s lack of polished pass rush moves and inconsistent pad level make it unlikely for him to contribute on passing downs, especially early in his career.
McDonald’s first step is inconsistent, but there are plenty of examples of him quickly firing off the line with a low pad level to immediately win the leverage battle. In these instances, he drives the center into the backfield to reset the line of scrimmage.
McDonald’s combative upper body twists or folds centers, making the A-gaps inaccessible for running backs. He lacks ideal arm length but uses hand counters to prevent more physically gifted offensive linemen from engulfing him. McDonald channels nice power through his hands to deliver pop or knock linemen off balance. He dominates one-on-one opportunities with centers.
Some linemen lose track of the football in the crowded interior, but McDonald tracks it well, allowing him to figure out when to disengage from his block. His arm length limits his tackle radius and occasionally makes it challenging for him to disengage from blocks. McDonald must become more aware of double teams and deploy the knee-drop technique to have greater influence on power runs.
The Buckeyes go on the road to face the Washington Huskies at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 27. McDonald’s top remaining test on the schedule comes against Penn State on Nov. 1.