{"id":129233,"date":"2026-04-24T21:05:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T01:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/houston-texans-pick-kayden-mcdonald-cries-a-veritable-ocean-of-tears-at-2026-nfl-draft-129233"},"modified":"2026-04-24T21:05:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T01:05:45","slug":"houston-texans-pick-kayden-mcdonald-cries-a-veritable-ocean-of-tears-at-2026-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/houston-texans-pick-kayden-mcdonald-cries-a-veritable-ocean-of-tears-at-2026-nfl-draft-129233","title":{"rendered":"Houston Texans pick Kayden McDonald cries a veritable ocean of tears at 2026 NFL Draft"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Kayden McDonald thought he was going to be picked by somebody <\/i>in the first round of the NFL Draft<\/a>. But when that didn’t happen, he and his family had to decide whether to stay in the so-called green room for the second round or get out of the view of cameras.<\/p>\n

McDonald returned to the green room Friday and, judging by what happened when he was picked by the Houston Texans<\/a>, it was everything for the young man.<\/p>\n

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The moment his name was called, McDonald began to weep.<\/p>\n

We’re talking a stream of tears as he hugged his family. And more tears as he walked to the stage. And even more as he embraced NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.<\/p>\n

‘SPECIAL’ PLAYER JEREMIYAH LOVE GOES TO CARDINALS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Cool. A release.<\/p>\n

But that wasn’t all. McDonald could not turn off the faucet in his eyes as he spoke with ESPN stage reporter Laura Rutledge.<\/p>\n

It was a veritable ocean of tears.<\/p>\n

NFL STARS TEAM UP TO SURPRISE MAKE-A-WISH GROUP AT LIDS AHEAD OF SUPER BOWL LIX<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

And pure joy.<\/p>\n

“It’s emotional, man,” McDonald said during the moving moment. “I know I’m supposed to be here. I’m just so blessed. I’m just so thankful. I’m just so emotional, like, where I came from. It’s a blessing.”<\/p>\n

McDonald is from Suwanee, Georgia, and his neighborhood wasn\u2019t what most would consider rough or impoverished \u2014 not affluent, either, but far from it.<\/p>\n

TOP FIVE HILARIOUS NFL DRAFT NIGHT MOMENTS TO GET THE NOSTALGIA FLOWING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

McDonald is also generally described as coming from a stable, supportive family. His parents<\/a> were actively involved in his recruitment process that led him to Ohio State.<\/p>\n

This is a high-character, disciplined prospect, multiple NFL evaluators told OutKick before the draft.<\/p>\n

And yet, McDonald’s truth is that he rose from the improbable to the second round of the NFL draft<\/a>. And that moved him.<\/p>\n

Then it moved us because it moved him on national television.<\/p>\n

And this is where we sometimes forget, as we watch these athletes head toward notoriety, adulation and, yes, riches, that the journey exacts a price.<\/p>\n

It can be a trip fraught with hard work and setbacks as well as lined with success and rewards. Either way, it exacts costs.<\/p>\n

So reaching the milestone of being selected in the draft<\/a> is a defining life moment for these men.<\/p>\n

They all obviously know this. Some celebrate it with smiles or excitement.<\/p>\n

Some celebrate it with tears of joy as a release.<\/p>\n

That was Kayden McDonald on Friday night.<\/p>\n

FOLLOW ARMANDO SALGUERO ON X: @ARMANDOSALGUERO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source – https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/outkick-sports\/houston-texans-pick-kayden-mcdonald-cries-veritable-ocean-tears-2026-nfl-draft <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kayden McDonald thought he was going to be picked by somebody in the first round of the NFL Draft. 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