Kayden McDonald got his moment. It was just delayed a night.
McDonald, a huge defensive tackle for Ohio State, was in the green room for the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh on Thursday night. He was not picked in the first round. ESPN reported that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke with McDonald after the first round and talked him into returning on Friday night. When his name was called, it was a heck of a moment.
McDonald started crying when he got the call that the Houston Texans had taken him with the 36th pick, got to celebrate a bit with his family, put on his Texans hat on the way to the stage, then had a long hug and more tears when he hugged NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on stage.
Goodell is not always on stage for picks after the first round. The ESPN story said Goodell told McDonald he wanted to give him a hug on stage after he was picked.
McDonald had a smile when he posed holding a Texans helmet with Goodell, and more tears when he was interviewed by ESPN on stage.
“It’s emotional,” McDonald said. “I know I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so bleseed, I’m just so thankful.
“Where I came from and now I’m here, it’s a blessing.”
The Texans traded up in the second round, moving ahead of the Giants, to take McDonald. The Giants traded defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence earlier this month and would have been a candidate to pick McDonald. McDonald will fit right into a fantastic Texans defense.
It took McDonald longer than expected to be drafted. But McDonald still got the moment that he came to Pittsburgh for.