Why Texans' draft pick Kayden McDonald was crying happy tears: 'Mama don't have to work no more'

Why Texans' draft pick Kayden McDonald was crying happy tears: 'Mama don't have to work no more' originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Kayden McDonald had to wait.

He was in the green room for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday night, but the Ohio State defensive tackle didn't get picked.

The Houston Texans changed that on Friday with the fourth pick of the second round. They traded up two spots to get McDonald.

He was almost immediately moved to tears.

"Mama don't have to work no more," ESPN's Booger McFarland explained as he watched McDonald cry on everyone's TV screens.

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McDonald has the potential to be a stud in the middle of DeMeco Ryans' defense.

"It's emotional," McDonald told ESPN's Laura Rutledge. "... Where I came from, now I'm here, it's a blessing."

He was obviously invited to the first round of the draft because most people thought he'd go in the first round. But 32 picks came and went, and McDonald had to sit back there without knowing his NFL future.

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