One prospect who may interest the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft is Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. He is a 6-3, 241-pound tight end who is expected to be a first-round pick, is viewed as the top tight end in the draft, and is one of the best playmakers in the entire draft. NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Sadiq ranked as his top tight end and graded him as his 13th overall player in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sadiq played a total of three seasons for the Oregon
Ducks and is coming off a breakout year where he showcased his playmaking ability. Through three seasons at Oregon, Sadiq totaled 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. This past year, he had 51 receptions for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns. Now, Sadiq is considered a lock to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and further improved his stock by having an incredible workout at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Player Profile
Kenyon Sadiq | Tight End | Oregon
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 241 pounds
- Arm Length: 31 1/2 inches
- Hands: 10 inches
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.39 seconds
- 10-Yard Split: 1.54 seconds
- Vertical Jump: 43.5 inches
- Broad Jump: 11’1”
- Bench Press: 26 reps
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths
- An elite athlete who has a well-built, compact muscular frame
- Shattered the all-time 40-time record for a tight end by running a blazing 4.39 at the Combine
- Jumped 43.5 inches and had an 11-1 broad jump, which showcased his explosive ability
- Profiles as a ‘Big Slot’ in the NFL and enters the league with an advanced route tree
- Has quick feet and is explosive, which helps him separate from defenders
- Has high-end YAC potential and was productive when used in the screen game
- Has strong hands and comes down with contested catches
- Tracks the ball well and can make plays down the field
- A willing and physical blocker
- Lined up all over Oregon’s offense, and can be a versatile weapon for an offense
Weaknesses
- Lacks the ideal height, size, and length you look for in a prototypical tight end
- While a willing blocker, he will need to become more polished with his technique
- His lack of size and length could hinder his upside as a blocker in the NFL
- Has some frustrating concentration drops that will need to be cleaned up
What other analysts are saying about Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
NFL.com’s draft analyst Lance Zierlein on Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
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.
NFL Network’s lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah on Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
Sadiq is a short, muscled-up tight end with outstanding speed and athleticism. At Oregon, he primarily aligned attached or in the slot, but he also saw some reps out wide and in the backfield. He is very explosive in his release, and he’s able to separate vertically on seam/wheel routes. He excels on quick screens, where he can display his dynamic run-after-catch skills. He needs to improve his dependability as a pass catcher. There were too many easy would-be catches that were dropped during the 2025 season. I love his competitiveness and tenacity as a blocker. He latches on, runs his feet, and works to finish. Overall, Sadiq lacks height and consistent hands, but he is a versatile, explosive weapon with toughness.
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq RAS
Should the Broncos trade up for Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
It was unlikely that Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq would make it to the Broncos’ 30th overall selection to begin with, but then he goes out and runs a 4.39 at 241 pounds at the Combine. Barring something unforeseen, the only way the Broncos can get Sadiq is by trading up for him. So, the question is, should the Broncos trade up for him?
Personally, I would only do a minor trade-up. I like Sadiq, but he’s an undersized tight end who would have likely been graded behind Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland last season. Giving up valuable future capital in a big trade-up for a tight end isn’t the move the Broncos should make right now. However, if he slips into the mid-20s and it’s not going to cost a ton, I would not be against pulling the trigger.
Sadiq is a helluva athlete and has the potential to be a game-changing playmaker for whoever drafts him in the NFL. While he won’t be a great run blocker in the NFL, he has the willingness and ability to be good enough that he won’t be a liability at it.
As a receiver, he can line up all over the offense and has route running, explosion, and the ability to get open. This is the type of player the Broncos need in their offense, and he is among the top players in this draft for the Broncos.
The question is, when will he go, and will he be in range for the Broncos to potentially move up for him?
