The 2026 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and with the marquee weekend of the offseason nearly here, the hype and excitement surrounding this year's event is already heating up.
Over the next several weeks, we're taking a look at some position groups in this year's class while examining a handful of names to know. Here's what we've covered so far:
We'll continue with the tight ends.
Five Names to Know
Depending on where you look, the various experts from around the web have identified a handful of players who are widely considered the top tight end prospects in this year's class.
Here's a look at five players to know.
Kenyon Sadiq – Oregon
Measurables: 6-foot-3, 241 pounds
Snapshot: A talented and versatile athlete, Sadiq caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025.
Big Board Rankings:
Daniel Jeremiah Top 50 3.0 (NFL.com - March 5): No. 13 overall (No. 1 TE)
Dane Brugler Top 100 (The Athletic - Feb. 11): No. 20 overall (No. 1 TE)
Matt Miller Top 50 (ESPN – March 5): No. 13 overall (No. 1 TE)
Pro Football Focus: No. 14 overall (No. 1 TE)
Expert Analysis:
NFL.com: "Sadiq is a short, muscled-up tight end with outstanding speed and athleticism. At Oregon, he primarily aligned attached or in the slot, but he also saw some reps out wide and in the backfield. He is very explosive in his release and he's able to separate vertically on seam/wheel routes. He excels on quick screens, where he can display his dynamic run-after-catch skills…I love his competitiveness and tenacity as a blocker. He latches on, runs his feet and works to finish. Overall, Sadiq is a versatile, explosive weapon with toughness."
The Athletic: "An alum of Bruce Feldman's "Freaks List," Sadiq is a brawny athlete with a unique combination of explosiveness and play strength. He brings both short-area quickness and long speed to the position, and he's able to outpace coverage and win at all three levels of the field. He needs continued technique work as a blocker but competes with outstanding physicality to latch, drive and win his assignment. He has the potential to be a mismatch-creating weapon in the NFL."
ESPN: "When scouts were at Oregon watching second-rounder Terrance Ferguson in the lead-up to the 2025 draft, they inevitably started talking about Sadiq, who could be drafted a round earlier than his former teammate. Sadiq is more of an elite route runner, with quickness and shifty moves, than a big-bodied tight end. Sadiq is best at creating separation with quickness and extending his frame on jump balls in the red zone, as shown by his eight touchdowns on 51 receptions last season."
For more on Sadiq, check out his draft profile at NFL.com.