After drafting David Bailey with the No. 2 pick, the New York Jets have selected Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 16.
Sadiq, 21, hauled in 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns last season, which led the FBS. At the NFL Scouting Combine, he made waves, running the fastest forty-yard dash by a tight end in combine history (4.39).
Throughout the pre-draft process, fans often cited Mason Taylor as a reason the team should avoid selecting Sadiq. However, due to his size and pass-catching ability, he can be integrated smoothly alongside Taylor. Last season, the Oregon product lined up for more snaps in the slot (331) than he did in-line (314), which shows that he can be used as a traditional slot receiver at the NFL level.
“I took a snap at every position this year except offensive line. If coaches can trust me to work in multiple positions, that’s just better for me,” he told New York media after being selected.
Despite being undersized, he holds his own in the blocking game. During the 2025 season, he earned a 66.3 run-blocking grade from PFF while being entrusted with significant responsibility in that role, logging 332 run-blocking snaps.
“I play fast, and I play hard. I’m going to hit someone, I’m going to run past someone, and I’m going to jump over someone,” Sadiq added.
With Jordyn Tyson and Carnell Tate by the time New York came back on the clock at No. 16, the Jets elected to go the tight end route in Sadiq while still adding a high-end pass-catching talent.
