Vikings Chatted With Popular Draft Prospect
With one month to go, Minnesota’s draft plans are a complete mystery. The franchise could seek reinforcements on the defensive side at all three levels, but Kevin O’Connell might ask interim GM Rob Brzezinski for some help at tight end, wideout or running back.
The pro days are in full swings and so are teams meeting with players. This week, defensive tackle Kayden McDonald revealed that he has drawn the Vikings’ interest in an interview with Justin Melo of SI.com.
“I feel like I’ve been meeting with pretty much every NFL team. It’s a total blessing. Formal interviews, Zoom meetings, it really feels like it’s been every team (laughs). I had formals at the NFL Combine with the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and a few others.”
McDonald is viewed as a late first-rounder or early second-rounder. The Vikings are scheduled to select a player with the 18th overall pick, but a trade could also be in the cards. McDonald is an option in either scenario.
“I’ve been on Top 30 visits. I have one with the Bengals, New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Washington Commanders, Ravens, and Bears. Every team that needs a physical defensive tackle has been in touch with me.”
Seemingly, the entire league has talked to McDonald at some point. A physical defensive tackle could certainly be on Brian Flores’ wishlist this offseason. The Vikings have blown up their interior defensive line, parting ways with veterans Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave after just one season, opening a hole of over 1,000 snaps on the defensive line.
McDonald could join a young and unproven group led by Jalen Redmond, who is coming off his breakout season. Redmond played a Pro Bowl-caliber season with 6 sacks and outstanding play against the run. Other than him, the Vikings apparently put trust in 2024 draftee Levi Drake Rodriguez and last year’s pick Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins.
Still, they could use another body. McDonald is a three-year player at Ohio State, though he just appeared in four games as a freshman. He was a depth player on the championship unit in 2024 and then finally played a full-time role on last year’s outstanding defense. In his junior season, McDonald registered 65 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 3 sacks en route to unanimous All-American recognition.
Among FBS players with at least 100 run-defense snaps in 2025, McDonald ranked number 1 in PFF run-defense grade and run-stop percentage.
At 6’2″ and 326 lbs, McDonald fits the mold of a true nose tackle. His presence could give Minnesota’s run defense a boost.
His DraftHuddle scouting report describes him as a “powerful, productive interior defensive lineman with a strong foundation as a run defender.” Also stating that his “leverage, recognition, and ability to disrupt plays at the line of scrimmage make him a consistent presence against the run.”
The Vikings frequently used last year’s signee Hargrave as nose tackle and he didn’t fully fit that role. Rodriguez was his backup, while Redmond and practice-squadder Taki Taimani got only a little run there. It now remains to be seen whether the Vikings view Rodriguez as their top nose tackle moving forward or if he was just used there because nobody else was available.
McDonald just turned 21. Defensive tackles often need to work on their physical strength after arriving in the league, especially 21-year-olds, but McDonald is ready to compete immediately.
A formal interview isn’t a guarantee that he’s actually on Minnesota’s draft list, but he is undoubtedly an intriguing player given the roster needs and his college production.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.