2026 NFL Draft: Where Will Kenyon Sadiq Be Drafted To? Odds, Market Analysis, Predictions
There’s a lot of talent in this 2026 NFL Draft tight end class, but atop that mountain is Kenyon Sadiq from the Oregon Ducks.A three-year college player, Sadiq showed plenty of athletic promise. It wasn’t until this past season that he really came into his own, catching 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. While those aren’t exactly eye-popping numbers, the Ducks had several receivers but they were also incredibly deep at running back. While I admittedly had some concerns about him due to that lack of production overall, Sadiq’s NFL Scouting Combine performance was one that simply cannot be ignored. He recorded a 133” broad jump, 43.5” vertical, 4.39 40-yard dash, and a 1.54-second 10-yard split. These are all 95th percentile or better. Sadiq may be undersized for a traditional tight end, but he actually lined up in the slot more so than inline, so I suspect, wherever he’s drafted, he’ll be used there plenty. Speaking of which, let’s explore where he could be drafted, using odds from DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+300)
The Buccaneers are drafting at No. 15 overall, and this feels like a great spot to start thinking about where Sadiq could come off the board. He could come off earlier, but there are some valuable positions such as edge rusher, wide receiver, and offensive line that could come just before this. The Buccaneers are a team that has quite a few holes especially at some of those spots just mentioned, like edge rusher and interior offensive line. With Lavonte David also retiring, they could use linebacker help. The team does have tight end Cade Otton, but they could easily run two tight ends at once with Mike Evans leaving for the San Francisco 49ers. Tampa Bay is looking a bit thin in the pass-catching department. They do have wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin, but Godwin isn’t as reliable as he used to be due to injuries. Adding Sadiq makes plenty of sense here, but much of that decision will depend on how the board falls. For example, if Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane is there, he’s tough to pass up on. There’s also linebacker CJ Allen, edge rushers Akheem Mesidor and Keldric Faulk. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the top receivers like Makai Lemon, Carnell Tate (less likely), or Jordyn Tyson is there. I’d say the Buccaneers are strong contenders, but they do have some other noticeable holes.
Carolina Panthers (+330)
Just a few picks after the Buccaneers is their NFC South rival, the Panthers, at No. 19 overall. The Panthers have some young wide receiver talent in Tetairoa McMillan, Jalen Coker, and Xavier Legette. Legette has had a rocky start to his NFL career. There have been some splash games like Week 7 last year, but he’s also dealt with some injuries. With the addition of Sadiq, this could make Sadiq more into the slot with Coker out wide, while Legette would play behind McMillan and Coker. The Panthers tight ends, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Tommy Tremble, are solid athletes but I’m not keeping Sadiq off the field for either of them. Adding Sadiq would bring more athleticism and production to the fold, helping develop quarterback Bryce Young even more. While they have needs at center with Cade Mays leaving and along the defensive interior, it feels far more likely that if Sadiq falls here the Panthers would take him. If he manages to get by the Buccaneers, I would be surprised if Sadiq falls past the Panthers unless there’s a receiver that falls that they really like.
Philadelphia Eagles (+550)
Going further down the first-round draft order, the Eagles are below the Panthers at No. 23 overall. The Eagles did retain tight end Dallas Goedert, but it was only on a one-year deal so this wouldn’t necessarily stop them from taking Sadiq. It certainly makes it less likely. That said, there are a lot of question marks surrounding wide receiver A.J. Brown. It doesn’t seem likely that he’ll be traded, but this is truly one of the bigger mysteries this offseason. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were traded tomorrow, or not at all. In a scenario where he’s traded, a wide receiver would make more sense. The wide receiver talent at No. 23 overall could be a bit dry, opening things up for Sadiq. There are a lot of teams ahead of the Eagles that could use him, so there would need to be some serious luck on the Eagles’ side for the board to fall in a way where he’s there at No. 23. If he does get there, the Eagles will then be faced with some decisions still. It’s not as if he’s a 100% lock to be drafted by them. The Eagles have a lot of aging, expensive players in key positions such as offensive tackle and edge rusher. They could even use another safety, too. There could be some Week-1 ready players like Mesidor or some players with promise like Kadyn Proctor, Max Iheanachor, Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion. Also, a host of edge rushers like Faulk, Cashius Howell, T.J. Parker, and more. There are a lot of things working against the Eagles, such as their natural draft spot, Goedert coming back, and some needs at key positions.
Los Angeles Rams (+600)
Moving back up the draft board, the Rams pick No. 13 overall thanks to their deal last season with the Atlanta Falcons. They pick before any other team on this list, making them a strong candidate in theory. However, the further up the draft board a team gets then the more options for premium positions such as offensive line, wide receiver or (maybe less likely now due to their offseason moves) cornerback. At No. 13 overall, the Rams could have their pick of Spencer Fano, Monroe Freeling, Lemon, Tyson, and many more. Something else to consider is that, while Sadiq would be an upgrade, the Rams have several tight ends in the pipeline, such as Colby Parkinson, the veteran Tyler Higbee, Terrance Ferguson, and Davis Allen. So while the Rams pick before these other teams, there will be better options available for their needs coupled with the long-term expense of those players. It would be far more beneficial for them to take on someone like Freeling, Fano, or Lemon, given how expensive these positions can be. Having them as cost-controlled options for up to five years is massively beneficial.
Baltimore Ravens (+750)
The Ravens desperately need some help for quarterback Lamar Jackson on the offensive side of the ball, and more particularly, pass catchers. They pick No. 14 overall, so they’ll definitely have a shot at some kind of pass-catcher including Sadiq. In addition to Jackson, who’s a weapon himself, they have running back Derrick Henry, wide receiver Zay Flowers, an aging tight end in Mark Andrews, and they lost fellow tight end Isaiah Likely in free agency.After that, there are players like Rashod Bateman, Tez Walker, and more. You may not want any of these receivers to be anything more than your WR3. Another thing to consider is that this pick was intended for Maxx Crosby before the deal fell apart. While teams will certainly draft in a way to improve their roster, it would be pretty upsetting to Ravens fans to retain this pick and use it on a developmental tackle, for example. So there could be some pressure, along with legitimate needs, to get a pass catcher. If a receiver like Tyson, Lemon, or Tate is there, Baltimore takes one of them ahead of Sadiq to be the WR2 to Flowers while allowing Bateman and the rest to operate in that WR3 role. That said, there are some teams with wide receiver needs ahead of them at No. 14 such as the Tennessee Titans, New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Miami Dolphins. There’s a scenario in which Lemon, Tate, and Tyson are all off the board leaving Sadiq as perhaps the next best pass-catcher. That is unless the team really likes the next crop of receivers like Omar Cooper Jr., Boston, or Concepcion. The Ravens are a strong possibility, but preferring a receiver or even a sure-thing guard like Ioane over Sadiq seems likely.
Kansas City Chiefs (+1000)
Finally, the Chiefs. Of all the teams on this list, this is the most intriguing. The Chiefs have two first-round picks after trading cornerback Trent McDuffie to the Rams, so they pick at No. 9 and No. 29 overall. Sadiq would be a fantastic addition for them, as Travis Kelce’s career may only have this upcoming season left. Sadiq would be a phenomenal follow-up to Kelce’s Hall of Fame career. However, the Chiefs pick in two spots where it might be tough to take Sadiq. The No. 9 pick will certainly have a lot of talent available, and No. 29 feels too far down the board. The Chiefs’ key needs right now are wide receiver, edge rusher, and defensive back. They lost both of their starting cornerbacks, need a legitimate WR1, and their pass rush has been lousy. At No. 9 overall, they might have their pick of a bunch of talents like Mansoor Delane, Tate, Rueben Bain Jr., David Bailey, Jermod McCoy, and the list goes on and on. It’s a good fit here for Sadiq, but there may be just far more must-add-now pieces for the Chiefs at No. 9.
Kenyon Sadiq Will Be Drafted By…
Of all of these teams, I’m going with the team I picked in my most recent mock draft, the Panthers. The Buccaneers are certainly a more than possible landing spot—just look at the betting odds—but this team has some serious needs along the interior offensive line, and with Todd Bowles being a defensive head coach, a move such as edge rusher or David’s replacement at linebacker is more than possible. As for the Panthers, I do worry a bit about Sadiq making it No. 19, but if he’s there, I’m not sure how they pass on him. They can draft a center like Connor Lew later, and Sadiq would be a massive upgrade for what the Panthers currently have.
Photo Credit: AP/Amanda Loman
