According to 9NEWS Denver’s Broncos insider Mike Klis, the Denver Broncos had a formal interview with Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at the NFL Scouting Combine. Sadiq is viewed as a potential first-round pick and has been connected to the Broncos throughout the draft process thus far.
Sadiq is a 6-3, 245-pound tight end
prospect who is widely viewed as the top tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft and a likely first-round pick. Multiple mocks have Sadiq going well before the Broncos pick at their 30th overall selection, while some have him being the Broncos’ pick in the first round. He fits the ‘Joker’ archetype that Head Coach Sean Payton looks for while also bringing some blocking ability.
NFL.com’s draft analyst, Lance Zierlein, compares Sadiq to Arizona Cardinals All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and calls him a potential high-volume target in the passing game.
A versatile tight end with a shredded physique and alluring potential as a volume target, Sadiq’s route tree will be full of branches. His athleticism and break quickness should allow him to uncover against man coverage on all three levels. He’s talented after the catch, with the ability to make things easier for play-callers and quarterbacks looking to move the sticks. He has the body control and hand strength to win contested catches but will occasionally allow balls to hit the ground on lower-difficulty plays. He’s adequate as a blocker, giving good effort in-line and locating and landing on linebackers as a move blocker. Teams looking to diversify their passing game options with a talented pass-catching tight end could make Sadiq a priority.
Personally, Sadiq is one of my favorite players in the draft for the Broncos. He has the makings of a big-time pass-catching tight end while also bringing the ability to block. He won’t be a high-level run-blocking specialist, but he’s a high-effort player who you can keep in on running downs.
As we know, tight end is a big need for the Broncos. Veteran Evan Engram did not produce like we all hoped last season and is now entering the final year of his contract. Adam Trautman is a free agent, Nate Adkins is coming off an injury-filled season, and Caleb Lohner remains a project. So, adding to the tight end room will be a priority for the Broncos, and frankly, they need to upgrade the room regardless. The Broncos’ tight ends contributed very little to the passing game, had issues with drops, and frankly, were a weakness of the offense. That will hopefully change this offseason, and adding Sadiq would certainly help that room moving forward.
Now, it remains to be seen if Sadiq will even be on the board when the Broncos select in the first round. He is going to test well and be an intriguing option for multiple teams. Tyler Warren’s and Colston Loveland’s successful rookie years will have plenty of teams eyeing Sadiq during this draft process. If the Broncos want him, they may need to trade up.
