2026 NFL Prospect Profile: Oregon’s Tight End Kenyon Sadiq

Kenyon Sadiq joined the Oregon Ducks in 2023, after being rated as a four-star prospect out of high school. He played the better part of his first two years as a spot player, but scouts are expecting him to have his breakout year in 2025. 

Sadiq is a prototypical NFL Z-tight end. He’s listed at 6’3” and 245 lbs. and can move. Among the class of tight ends, Sadiq may prove to be the fastest, combining his straight-line speed with above-average twitchiness, making him an intriguing receiving prospect. 

Don’t expect Sadiq to be a great in-line tight end at the next level, but he will be a dangerous passing threat every time he touches the ball. 

Strengths

Kenyon Sadiq is an athletic, pass-catching tight end who bears a resemblance to Harold Fannin, Jr., as a potential professional comparison. He’s big enough to play in line, but his true calling is in the passing game. He’s explosive off the snap and will beat defenders with his speed and “quicks” when cutting and trying to create separation. 

He’s a strong route runner and is only getting better, which may help him in a plug-and-play scenario in the pros. During routes, he is quick out of breaks and maintains his speed out of cuts and when he changes direction. He’s been exemplary at finding holes against zone schemes and can generate yards after the catch with his athleticism. If teams use linebackers to guard him, they will get burned. And as a receiver, he can stretch the seam and be a danger to break a big play every time he touches the ball.  

Weaknesses

In an ideal scenario, Sadiq would add some weight and strength to play more in-line. Right now, his size locks him into becoming a receiving tight end only in the NFL, so adding muscle will allow him to play more snaps and should improve his average blocking ability, which is a work in progress. Thus, the right tight end coach might be able to get more out of him at the next level. Also, at his current size, scouts and coaches may worry about his ability to stay healthy in the pros.

Some evaluators look at Sadiq as a scheme-fit tight end, meaning he will do well in offensive game plans that feature tight ends as more vertical threats and value their contributions in the passing game. He plays well when he breaks out of motion and as a Z-end, but this might limit his options on draft night, affecting where he may come off the board. Today, however, most teams value a “move tight end”, so this may be a bit overstated.

Conclusion 

Right now, Sadiq is ranked by many sources in the top three tight ends for next year’s draft class. With a robust final season in Oregon, he could catapult himself to the top of that list, as there is no Brock Bowers in this class. 

His build, athleticism, and downfield ability make him Draft Nation’s second overall tight tend prospect and fans should expect him to go early on day two.