The NFL Draft is just a week away, and it remains unclear as to what the Dallas Cowboys might do in Round 1. The expectation among many of the insiders is that the Cowboys want to move up and secure an elite-level prospect (Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs), but that is easier said than done.
There is a better chance that they get “stuck” at No. 12 and No. 20 and are forced to pick the best (defensive) players on the board. But one name that shouldn’t be ignored is Kayden McDonald, a defensive tackle from Ohio State.
A top-30 player based on the consensus board, McDonald could be too good of a prospect for the Cowboys to ignore in Round 1.
Kayden McDonald should be an option in Round 1 for the Dallas Cowboys
Whenever you watch the tape of Arvell Reese, Sonny Styles, or Caleb Downs, it’s impossible to ignore McDonald up front.
Whether it’s eating up double teams or making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, McDonald was arguably the most consistent player for Ohio State this season (well, outside of Downs). One could make the argument that Reese and Styles benefited a ton from McDonald upfront and not the other way around.
The issue that McDonald, the prospect, is running into is that he’s just not a threat as a pass rusher. He was a full-time starter for the first time in his career in 2025 and recorded three sacks. But in the two previous seasons, he did not register a sack and only tallied two tackles for a loss.
But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have value. Defensive tackles that can stop the run are always valuable. But the difference between someone like McDonald and Mazi Smith is that he is more than just a player who can eat up blocks. McDonald had 65 tackles during the 2025 season, including 31 solo tackles. Compare that to someone like Smith, who had 34 solo tackles during his four-year career at Michigan (88 total tackles).
He’s also incredibly disruptive and was able to make several splash plays. He finished the 2025 season with nine tackles for a loss, which is a great number for a defensive tackle. Again, if you were to compare that number to someone like Mazi Smith (6.0 tackles for a loss in four seasons), he blows him away.
The goal isn’t to say that he is a better prospect than Mazi Smith, because that’s a low bar to clear. But is he someone that the Cowboys could and should seriously consider in Round 1? The Cowboys have invested a bunch into their defensive tackle room, and it’s fair to wonder if they are actually better if they draft McDonald after trading away Osa Odighizuwa for just a late third-round pick.
So, how would it be a better fit? McDonald’s strength is being able to play nose and one-technique. He would instantly be the best run defender on the roster, which would allow Quinnen Williams to play the three-technique and Kenny Clark to be the 4-I and the defensive tackle on the field (with Williams) in obvious pass-rush situations.
On base downs, a trio of Clark, Williams, and McDonald would give the Cowboys size and athleticism up front to stop the run. It would also put Williams into a situation where he can be more of a pass-rusher, which is why Dallas gave up so much to get him at the trade deadline last season.
McDonald isn’t going to be for everyone. Most teams don’t like taking defensive tackles in Round 1 that don’t provide much as a pass rusher. But McDonald appears to be a fantastic fit in Christian Parker’s defense, and he could fill a similar role to what Jordan Davis has done in Philadelphia. The only difference is that McDonald is a much better run defender and is way more active making tackles/stops.
This wouldn’t be the sexiest pick in the world, but adding McDonald up front for the Cowboys would be a massive upgrade on the defensive line, and he would be a much cleaner fit than even someone like Odighizuwa. Dallas would still need to find help at EDGE, CB, and LB during the draft, but McDonald is the type of player who will make everyone’s job much easier.
And for that reason, he should be an option in Round 1.
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