When it comes to the tight end position, there’s no better prospect than Oregon prospect Kenyon Sadiq in this 2026 NFL Draft. The Bucs evidently have their eye on Sadiq as he had a formal meeting with Tampa Bay while at the Combine in Indianapolis.
There’s rightfully plenty of intrigue on how Sadiq can be utilized in an NFL offense. Known more as a receiving type of tight end, he is an explosive route runner that immediately creates mismatches against opposing defenses. He was the top target for Oregon last season, which was his first year as the main starter for the group while recording 51 catches for 560 yards and a whopping eight touchdowns in 14 games.
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Troy Wayrynen
Sadiq is a hot commodity for several teams in the draft, and while the Bucs do need a lot of help on the defensive side, they’ve showed with their first-round pick of wide receiver Emeka Egbuka from a season ago that they’re not afraid to go with the best player available is Sadiq is there at 15.
Kenyon Sadiq Is A Highly Sought After Tight End
“I thought it’d be a little more intense at times,” Kenyon Sadiq said about meeting with all these teams. “Kind of grilling you, but no, some of them are really just getting to know the stuff and see what their personalities are like.”
When asked about how his meeting with the Bucs went, he generalized it with others.
“All the meetings have been great,” Sadiq said. “One, it’s a dream to meet with all of these teams and two, its just asking to talk ball with them.”
It’s not hard to tell that Sadiq is a pretty calm person while up at the podium. But he does have calm confidence about him. It’s not cocky, but he has no doubts he can be great at what he does.
“I’m going to go run a great 40 (yard dash) and all those things tomorrow,” Sadiq said at the Combine. “Just showing how explosive I am in the passing game and in the run game so I can help the team all around. “I just want to make a statement. I want to have a dominant Combine performance.”
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq – Photo by: Ben Lonergan
He’s also self-aware about what he brings to the table, and what he maybe lacks in.
“I have a very mature mindset coming into this league,” he said.
What’s gotten him to this level is his elite receiving ability. It’s the rate at which he does it, though, that separates him from the pack. His ability to win matchups just comes from the work.
“Just working versus leverage, versus coverage, and those types of things,” Sadiq said. “Really just doing anything at a high speed and at an elite level I think is what I transition to at a high level.”
While Sadiq is not viewed as a blocking tight end, he has always wanted to change that narrative. He is a very willing blocker and works on it daily. He believes he is good, but understand he needs to be better.
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq – Photo by: IMAGN Images – Dale Zanine
“Obviously I think I do a great job on the perimeter,” Sadiq said. “Point of attack blocking I think I do a great job for being my size as well. I kind of made that emphasis coming into college, what I wanted to get good at and that was one of them. I think I’ve done a good job at that, but the NFL is different than college so there’s definitely a need to improve in point of attack blocking, hand placement and keeping my head at the point of contact and those things.”
Kenyon Sadiq Already Has Quite The Connection With Bucs’ Offense
What gives Kenyon Sadiq a connection to the Bucs is his history with a couple of Oregon Ducks teammates turned Bucs players. Sadiq was at Oregon from 2023 to 2025, so he was teammates with Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving in 2023 and wide receiver Tez Johnson in 2023 and 2024.
“Those are just two great guys on and off the field,” Sadiq said of Irving and Johnson. “I love those guys. Really cool to see them succeed and accomplish their dreams.”
Bucs WR Tez Johnson – Photo by: USA Today
He also spoke highly of quarterback Baker Mayfield, who he could eventually be a teammate of if things go right.
“(I’ve been) watching him forever,” Sadiq said. “He does everything well at this next level. He seems like a great dude as well.”
The more the Bucs meet with tight ends, the more likely it seems that the Bucs won’t re-sign Cade Otton. That opens the door for someone like Sadiq to get drafted by Tampa Bay and make this offense more dynamic.
Tampa Bay could be looking at a group with Chris Godwin Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Jalen McMillan and Tez Johnson at receiver with Irving as the primary running back in a world where Mike Evans does not return. Adding Sadiq makes more sense in that case, as he would add more tight end skills than they’ve had in years. It would only help get the best version of Mayfield and Sadiq could make them a prolific group.
The Bucs need plenty of help on defense so the timing would need to be right with Kenyon Sadiq. It would also be tough to not make a hard consideration when Tampa Bay is on the clock for a very crucial 2026 NFL Draft coming up soon.