This is probably not the Buckeye that Bengals fans expect to take in the first round of the draft. Recent mock projections show Caleb Downs coming off the board before the Bengals make their selection, so they have a lot of viable options for the tenth pick. Cincinnati could trade back, collecting draft capital to shore up the roster, but Jeremiyah Love potentially being available at the tenth pick is awfully tempting for a franchise that loves impact players on offense. More likely, the Bengals stay where they are and select a defender that immediately makes the team better.

Taking Kayden McDonald makes a lot of football sense for Cincinnati at this point in the first round. An All-American in 2025, he was a disruptive force in the interior for Ohio State, with nine tackles for loss and three sacks. The top-rated DT in the draft class, McDonald impacts the run game with a good blend of quickness, power, and play recognition. The Bengals need a DT alongside Jonathan Allen to create more one-on-ones for edge rushers Boye Mafe and Shemar Stewart, and McDonald has the potential to make that defensive line elite.