04/24/26 07:05:00
Printable Page
04/24 19:04 CDT Kayden McDonald's long wait in the NFL draft green room ends
with tears and a new job in Houston
Kayden McDonald's long wait in the NFL draft green room ends with tears and a
new job in Houston
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Kayden McDonald and Colton Hood spent three long hours in
the green room inside Acrisure Stadium on Thursday night all dressed up with
nowhere to go.
The players remained backstage while the 15 other NFL draft prospects in
attendance made their way to the stage to hug NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
after being selected in the first round.
McDonald and Hood's time would have to wait until Friday, though not for very
long.
The Houston Texans selected McDonald, the burly 6-foot-3, 326-pound defensive
tackle from Ohio State with the fourth pick of the second round. Hood, a
cornerback from Tennessee, went to the New York Giants with the next selection.
McDonald chose to return to the green room on Friday, though this time he had
traded the suit he had on Thursday while walking the red carpet for a far more
casual fit. Wearing a black short-sleeved button down shirt, a white T-shirt
and a chain, McDonald was visibly shaken as he made the slightly delayed talk
toward Goodell.
The commissioner and McDonald embraced for a long moment, the tears streaking
down McDonald's face hard to miss.
"It's emotional man," McDonald said. "I knew I'm supposed to be here. I'm just
so blessed."
McDonald added he's blessed to join the Texans, who finished last season with
the NFL's top-ranked defense and bludgeoned the Pittsburgh Steelers in the
opening round of the playoffs.
Asked what he can add to a unit that's already among the league's best,
McDonald didn't hesitate.
"Disruptive, making it easier for the (defensive) end," McDonald said. "We all
go to work."
While McDonald stuck around, Hood did not. When Hood's name was called by
Goodell, who had former Giants star defensive end Osi Umenyiora at his side,
the videoboard behind them merely flashed a picture of Hood wearing Tennessee
orange.
"Way to go Colton," Goodell said before retreating back stage before the next
selection.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
|