Packers Get ‘Absolute Steal’ in New NFL Mock Draft

Following the transformation to a 3-4 defense and the trade of Colby Wooden, the Green Bay Packers have a big need in the middle of their defense.

That need was addressed in Justin Melo’s latest mock draft for On SI with Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald, who was a unanimous All-American in 2025 after an absolutely dominant season.

“The Green Bay Packers require more depth at defensive tackle despite acquiring Javon Hargrave, who is a temporary solution,” Melo wrote. “Kayden McDonald is a fringe first-round prospect who would be an absolute steal here.”

Other than 27 reps on the 225-pound bench press, McDonald did not test at the Scouting Combine but he measured 6-foot-2 and 326 pounds.

McDonald was the Big Ten’s Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year after recording 65 tackles, including three sacks and nine tackles for losses.

“With Peter Woods and Caleb Banks slipping out of this projection, there would be value available at defensive tackle in the second round,” Melo concluded. “McDonald is an elite run defender with rare size and penetration skills.”

The question is whether McDonald would get close to Green Bay’s spot at No. 52. For instance, he is the No. 26 overall prospect, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.

“His dominant run-game qualities will make him immediately useful for an NFL team,” Brugler said in wrapping up his thoughts on McDonald.

McDaniel is the No. 39 overall prospect, according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah. While McDaniel lacks “twitch and polish” as a pass rusher, he’d immediately upgrade the run defense.

“McDonald has excellent size and strength for the DT position,” he wrote as a part of a longer breakdown. “He’s at his best against the run. He can press out blocks and disengage with violent torque.”

McDonald’s emergence began in 2024, when he made an enormous tackle on third-and-goal against Penn State.

“(McDonald) is a guy that, particularly when you put him in those situations where he’s just head up on the center and his job is just to knock that guy back, I think he’s showing to have the ability to really change the game and change the line of scrimmage,” then-defensive coordinator Jim Knowles said.

In 2025 under the tutelage of new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, McDonald was at his best when his best was required with eight-tackle games against Texas, Penn State and Miami.

“I manifested the breakout season by working hard the entire time, whether I was playing or not,” he told Melo. “I remember our first game of the season was against Texas. That’s a big game to start the year.

“I knew if I had a good game, I could take it one day at a time and build on that performance. I kept developing as I became a more mature player. I think you can look at each game this past season and say I got better every single week. I played my best football when we had our biggest games.”

The Packers have a huge need at defensive tackle. The 3-4 requires three big defensive linemen. With Devonte Wyatt and Javon Hargrave, the Packers have two. The rest of the depth chart is rounded out by late-round or undrafted players such as Karl Brooks, Warren Brinson, Jonathan Ford and Nazir Stackhouse.

With Hargrave replacing Wooden, who wasn’t a great run stopper but he was their best, even a two-down player like McDonald would be an enormous asset.

“They’re getting the most physical defensive tackle in the NFL Draft,” he told Melo. “I’m going to elevate the room. I want to help the team win a Super Bowl. I believe my teammates are going to love me. I’m going to earn their respect.”

McDonald was Ohio State’s first All-American nose tackle since Jonathan Hankins in 2012.

“I’m a game-wrecker,” McDonald said last season after the Buckeyes crushed Penn State’s run game.

Added coach Ryan Day: ““I think he understands the workload that it takes to play inside like that. It’s just not something you show up and play a few snaps and then get out of there. I mean, it's an all-day sucker [and he sustained] a high level of play.”

McDonald’s older brother, Jayden, was a linebacker at Troy and Connecticut.

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