Joseph McDonald
Kenyon Sadiq Scouting Report
Kenyon Sadiq committed to the University of Oregon in 2023, after being recruited as a consensus 4-star tight end out of Skyline High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Sadiq got involved upon arrival, appearing in 14 games as a freshman. In his sophomore year, he still wasn’t the starter, but saw improvement in production. In 2025, Sadiq secured the starting job and never looked back. He had a dominant junior year, leading all FBS tight ends in touchdown catches as well as receiving a plethora of honors, including Second-Team All-American and Big Ten Tight End of the Year.
Sadiq has elite athletic ability, standing at 6’3’’, 241 pounds. He has a good frame, but 241 pounds is light for an NFL tight end. This shouldn’t be a reason for concern, as he will surely bulk up in his rookie year. To add on, Sadiq only missed one game in his entire college career due to injury. The combine proved his elite athleticism, where he put on a show. Sadiq ran a 4.39 40-yard dash, the fastest of any tight end ever, proving his speed is legit. Additionally, Sadiq recorded a 43.5 vertical and an 11-foot-1 broad jump, putting him in the category of some of the best athletes to play the game. His elite speed is paired with great acceleration, burst, and agility that is put on display after the catch. This elite athleticism is demonstrated through his verticality and ability to line up anywhere on the field. Sadiq was comfortable playing in the slot, flexed out wide, in line, as well as motioned and used as a puller frequently. He has a very good mental ability. He is asked to do a lot in Oregon’s offense, and it never seems like too much. The game never seems too fast for him, and when running routes is a quarterback’s friend, redirecting and working back when the quarterback is in trouble. Sadiq also has good competitive toughness, constantly playing through the whistle and never taking plays off.
The 21-year-old is a good blocker. Oregon asked him to do a lot of blocking, and for the most part, he held his own. He is a tenacious blocker who sustains blocks, positions himself well, and can effectively climb to all three levels of the field. While he does have good inside hand placement, the main critique of his blocking is his lack of technique. Sadiq tends to lean when blocking, losing his leverage; this allows bigger defenders to throw him aside and quicker defenders to dash past him with a quick move. The Oregon product is a very good route runner. His route tree is full of branches and, paired with a very good release, can effectively be a force on routes that utilize all three levels of the field. Sadiq is a serious deep threat and can get behind defenders with ease. He is also used in screen passes, where he allows his YAC ability to shine. His ability to break tackles and his ability to make a man miss lead to him being dangerous in the open field. Sadiq is effective against both zone and man coverages but performs better vs. man. The main reason is that while Sadiq has a solid zone feel, he has room to grow. He is prone to sitting in clustered spaces too frequently instead of continuing to move to find a more open field.
Sadiq has very good hands. Despite a few concentration drops, his hands are extremely reliable. Thanks to his athletic ability, frame, and elite ball tracking, he offers a large catch radius and makes diving catches seem routine. His aggressive and active approach to catching leads to lots of success on contested catches.
Summary
In 2025, Kenyon Sadiq emerged as one of the top tight ends in college football at the University of Oregon, earning Second-Team All-American honors and Big-Ten Tight End of the Year after leading all FBS tight ends in touchdown receptions. At 6’3″ and 241 pounds, he is an elite athlete who set a tight end record, 4.39 40-yard dash, to go along with an impressive 43.5-inch vertical at the combine. His speed, versatility, large catch radius, and route running allow him to line up across the formation and create big plays, especially after the catch. While his blocking lacks technique, it will improve as he matures in the NFL, thanks to his willingness and tenacity. Overall, his rare athleticism and production give him a strong upside to thrive as a modern NFL tight end.
Scheme and Team Fit
Sadiq’s versatility and well-rounded game allow him to flourish in many schemes. That being said, he would be used best in a vertical “modern” passing offense that utilizes their tight ends in a plethora of ways, showcasing Sadiq’s wide range of skills. A team fit would be the Kansas City Chiefs. Not only do they pick in the draft where he would fall, but with Kelce on the way out, a team that is well known for its tight end history will need an heir to the position. The Chiefs need more offensive weapons, as well as a young potential superstar, to help develop a core for a second wave of their dynasty. Another team that fits is the Baltimore Ravens. A team known for developing well, and utilizing multiple tight ends will have Sadiq instantly in the action alongside Mark Andrews. Sadiq would be able to fill in the spot Isaiah Likely left and soon take over for the aging Andrews.
NFL Player Comp: George Kittle
Sadiq’s player comp is George Kittle. While Sadiq’s combined results and athletic nature make him hard to compare, Kittle fits best. Kittle stands at 6 ‘4’’, 250 pounds, similar to Sadiq’s 6 ‘3’’, 241 pounds, where Sadiq will put weight on. Both are uber-athletic tight ends who can line up all over the field and are great after the catch. Additionally, both are willing blockers who play with toughness.
Projection: Elite Player
Sadiq has all the makings of a super-star tight end in the NFL. He is already ready to be a day-one impact starter and will only improve as he plays, as his athleticism meets proper technique.
Grade and Round Projection: 6, Mid First Round Pick
His final grade is a 6, and he will most likely be taken in the mid-first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
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