As the 2026 NFL Combine begins in Indianapolis, the Pittsburgh Steelers are scouting with a very specific DNA in mind. While the team officially enters a new era under head coach Mike McCarthy, the front office’s obsession with physical, trench-warfare dominance remains unchanged.
With Cam Heyward nearing the end of a legendary career, the search for the next prototype at defensive tackle could lead GM Omar Khan to a familiar pipeline: Ohio State.
Kayden McDonald would be the perfect fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers
The Target: Kayden McDonald, IDL, Ohio State
If you were to use a 3D printer to create a classic Steelers nose tackle, the result would be Kayden McDonald. At 6-foot-3 and over 320 pounds, McDonald is a bowling ball in shoulder pads who finished 2025 as a unanimous All-American and the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.
- The Fit: McDonald is a throwback to the Casey Hampton era of Steelers football. He is an immovable object in the run game, utilizing a compact frame and elite lower-body strength to reset the line of scrimmage. In 2025, he recorded a staggering 65 tackles -- an unheard-of number for a pure nose -- along with 9.0 tackles for loss that showcase his ability to get off blocks and wrangle down ball-carriers behind the line of scrimmage. For a Steelers defense that values gap-sound reliability, McDonald’s ability to not only eat double-teams but wreak havoc could be an ideal fit.
- "Steelers DNA": Khan’s drafting history favors high-pedigree players from elite programs who are NFL-ready in their body type. McDonald’s tape is littered with examples of him jolting interior linemen and shedding blocks with ease, and in the Big Ten, success up front is a flat-out war. Furthermore, when you watch the tape, he doesn't just hold his ground; he moves the pile backward.
Why the Combine Matters
For McDonald, the Combine isn't about the 40-yard dash. In fact, you shouldn't really care at all what he runs because if McDonald is sprinting 40 yards downfield, that's a bad sign for Pittsburgh's defense.
Now, his 10-yard split will matter (initial explosiveness), as will the bench press, as scouts want to see if his first-step burst translates to the numbers. And if he shows explosive short-area quickness in Indy, he could solidify himself as a Day 1 pick, allowing the Steelers to pair him with 2025 first-rounder Derrick Harmon and 2023 second-rounder Keeanu Benton to form one of the league’s most imposing interiors.