Kenyon Sadiq is the top 2026 NFL Draft tight end prospect in the Nation. He proved that with an impressive performance in an Oregon Ducks’ 42-27 win over the No. 15 ranked USC Trojans in a Week 13 showdown.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound tight end hauled in six receptions for 72 yards and two touchdowns with the win. In showcasing his outstanding connection with Oregon QB Dante Moore, the nation’s top tight end showed NFL draft scouts his ability to split defenses and catch the ball in traffic.
Look at this Moore to Sadiq touchdown connection to put the Ducks up 35-21 late in the third quarter:
What a throw. What a catch.
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) November 22, 2025
Second @dantemoore05 to @KenyonSadiq TD connection of the day makes it 35-21, Ducks.#GoDucks pic.twitter.com/ijm7QhEqiH
Through Week 13 of the college football season, Sadiq has 30 receptions for 407 yards and 6 touchdowns. Not numbers that jump off the chart, but he did miss time due to injury and when he is on the field, it is the athleticism in the open field and yards after the catch that makes Sadiq a must-draft caliber player in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
What makes Kenyon Sadiq a top 20 pick
The 2026 NFL Draft class is not top heavy, but even if it was, Sadiq would still be a player teams in need of a tight end will target in the first round.
As showcased against USC, the Oregon playmaker is a mismatch once he gets into the open field. With tight ends like Sam LaPorta, Brock Bowers and Tyler Warren making immediate impacts in the NFL, the plot will be set for Sadiq to be the next great tight end story entering the NFL.
In his NFL Draft big board, NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. explains just what makes Sadiq a first-round talent.
He writes:
“Sadiq is loaded with physical traits. He has the explosion to hurdle defenders in the open field. He has the vision and speed to cause conflict after the catch, with roughly half his 2025 yardage coming after the ball is in his hands. And he's nearly impossible to match against because of his quickness and size. Sadiq has been consistent this season, and he could be the first tight end off the board.”
Those physical traits will make him a prime target for teams in search of a tight end like the Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs. The intriguing team is the Chiefs who will be looking to possibly replace Travis Kelce. But if the veteran tight end returns another season, him paired with Sadiq would be gold for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense.