Kayden McDonald highlights Ohio State’s best remaining players for Day 2 of NFL draft

The 2026 NFL Draft began on April 23 with a flurry of Ohio State players going off the board.

Four Buckeyes were among the top-11 picks in the draft, beginning with wide receiver Carnell Tate who was taken by the Tennessee Titans at No. 4 overall.

Linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles soon followed as they went No. 5 and No. 7 to the New York Giants and Washington Commanders, respectively. Safety Caleb Downs was the Dallas Cowboys’ selection at No. 11.

Even with the early wave of players who went, Ohio State still has its share of prospects left, with the second and third rounds of the draft set for April 24.

Here are the best remaining ones:

Kayden McDonald, defensive tackle

It figures McDonald will be among the earlier selections in the second round after he had generated some first-round buzz in recent months and was invited to the draft in Pittsburgh.

But Florida’s Caleb Banks and Clemson’s Peter Woods were the only defensive tackles to be picked in the opening round.

McDonald emerged as a run-stuffing nose tackle for the Buckeyes in his first year as a starter and was named a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten’s defensive lineman of the year.

He followed Downs, Reese and Tate in leaving school a year early to turn pro.

Max Klare, tight end

Klare was one of the Buckeyes’ top pass-catching weapons after he transferred from Purdue.

He had 43 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns in 2025, nearly matching his production from the previous year when he led the Boilermakers in receiving as their top target.

Klare considered his move to Ohio State as an opportunity to develop into a more well-rounded tight end, pointing to blocking as an area of growth.

If he goes in the second or third round, he’d be the Buckeyes’ first tight end to be drafted on Day 2 since Jeremy Ruckert in 2022.

Davison Igbinosun, cornerback  

Igbinosun spent three years with the Buckeyes after he transferred from Mississippi in 2023.

His physicality as a 6-foot-2, 189-pound cornerback challenged receivers, but also left him prone to pass interference.

He was the most heavily penalized cornerback in the nation in 2024 before cutting down on penalties last season.

Coach Ryan Day praised Igbinosun for his toughness last year, pointing to his influence on the culture of their secondary.

“A gritty, competitive dude who just brings it every day,” Day said. “He’s had a major impact on our program.”

Will Kacmarek, tight end

Kacmarek was another multi-year player out of the transfer portal for the Buckeyes after leaving Ohio for Ohio State in 2024.

He provided them with a dependable run-blocking tight end who also caught 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns during his two years.

Even if he isn’t a frequent receiving target, he’ll provide a physical presence with his 6-foot-5, 261-pound frame.

Ohio State’s remaining draft-eligible players

• RB CJ Donaldson Jr.
• TE Will Kacmarek
• TE Max Klare
• OL Ethan Onianwa
• DL Caden Curry
• DL Tywone Malone Jr.
• CB Davison Igbinosun
• S Lorenzo Styles Jr.
• LS John Ferlmann

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow him on @joeyrkaufman on X.