How did the experts grade the Texans' draft pick of Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald?

Welcome to Houston, Kayden McDonald.

Houston Texans general manager Nick Caserio isn't playing games this draft season. After being linked to the Ohio State defensive tackle for weeks, Caserio ensured that he'd be coming to Houston, trading away two draft picks to move up two spots to select the All-American.

Viewed as a fan favorite for Houston, McDonald previously visited Reliant Stadium following the NFL combine for a top-30 visit. He also met with the Texans for a formal interview at the combine and followed up with the staff at Ohio State's Pro Day late last month.

McDonald, who elected to stay in Pittsburgh after being the last player selected out of the Green Room, made sure to make the moment count as the emotions of hearing his name took over. Here's where he found out that Houston had made him its next pick after trading up to get him at No. 36.

The 6-foot-2, 326-pound defensive tackle was considered by many to be a lock for the first round. Since he fell into Day 2, it became clear that Houston would be back on the market. Last season, as the anchor of the No. 1 run defense in the Big Ten, he totaled 65 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in his final season at Ohio State.

The Texans need a long-term running mate up the middle to pair with the recently extended Anderson. Even though he's not the ideal fit for Ryans' defense as a three-tech, the Texans have needed a difference-maker in the run game with 1-tech potential, so perhaps the switch is a welcome addition beyond 2026.

How did the experts feel about the move? Here’s a collection of outcomes from various media outlets, where experts believe that not only was this a promising draft pick, but maybe one of the best overall picks of the entire event.

USA Today: A

From Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: "Another selection that could have been made in the first round without much objection. The Texans jump ahead of the Giants, who needed a force up front to replace Dexter Lawrence. McDonald can wreak havoc against teams that overcommit to stopping Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter."

NFL.com: A

From Chad Reuter: "I paired McDonald with the Texans in one mock draft because it fills a big need for a two-gap run stuffer. That's what McDonald is: one of the stronger run defenders in the draft. McDonald isn't all power, either. He's got some real quickness off the ball."

CBS Sports: A+

From Mike Renner: "If there was any weakness on this Texans defense, well, it just got fixed. McDonald is nothing short of an elite run-defending nose tackle prospect. His ability to envelope double teams and make plays in the run game will allow DeMeco Ryans to dedicate more resources to the back end in coverage - a scary thought."

Texans Wire: A

From Cole Thompson: "While the Texans don't have a third-round pick anymore, they landed a first-round talent and arguably the best defensive tackle 10 picks after they were on the clock. The 6-foot-2 defensive tackle known for eating space and guards now joins arguably the league's best defensive line as the next great run-stopper for Ryans' front seven. He'll need work in the pass-rushing game, but Houston has options to fill in behind him. They need him to be the last piece on a defensive line to turn them into the NFL's Avengers. Congrats, league, you just got the Hulk added to the mix."

This article originally appeared on Texans Wire: How did the experts grade the Texans' draft pick of Ohio State DL Kayden McDonald?