Patriots Eyeing McDonald for Defensive Line Boost

0:00On March 24th, the New England Patriots are ramping up for the 2026 NFL draft after wrapping up the first phase of free agency. They added some new talent but still need help on interior defensive line, especially after losing Kira's Tonga to the Kansas City Chiefs. One standout prospect they're checking out is Ohio State defensive tackle, Kate and McDonald, who's drawn a top 30 visit request from the Pats. McDonald had a breakout year for the Buckeyes in 2025, posting 65 tackles, 3 sacks, two forced fumbles, and a pass breakup. That performance landed him all the American honors and put him squarely in first round conversation. Several teams have shown strong interest in McDonald, including the Bengals, Raiders, Texans, dolphins, commanders, Ravens and Bears, all hunting for. A tough interior lineman. For New England, this lines up perfectly with their roster gaps heading into the draft. He's expected to go early in the first round, but if he slides to the Patriots pick at

1:00number 31, they might jump at the chance to grab him, and bolster that defensive front. With draft prep heating up, keep an eye on how New England addresses these needs to build around their young core. I'm Cory with the story, and you've been listening to NFL News today, AI-powered football coverage.