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Ohio State standout defensive tackle Kayden McDonald to visit Texans, Patriots, Ravens, several others

FILE - Ohio State defensive lineman Kayden McDonald (98) celebrates after recovering a fumble during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez, File) (Melissa Tamez, Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

HOUSTON – Ohio State consensus All-American defensive tackle Kayden McDonald, one of the top defensive players in the draft, has a visit with the Texans, per a league source.

The Big Ten Conference Defensive Lineman of the Year and first-round draft target had a formal meeting with the Texans at the NFL scouting combine.

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McDonald has multiple visits, including the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Texans could use a young, athletic defensive tackle for their top-ranked defense to work in tandem with Sheldon Rankins, Tommy Togiai and Logan Hall.

McDonald, a Texarkana native who grew up in Suwanee, Georgia, provides a dominant inside presence at 6-foot-2 1/8, 326 pounds and operates with outstanding leverage and pad level. The first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection recorded 65 tackles last season for the Buckeyes with three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

The breakout season propelled him into position to be one of the first defensive tackles off the board in April.

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com