The Oregon Ducks nearly guaranteed themselves two first-round draft picks after two special performances on Day Two of the NFL Combine.
Friday at the NFL Combine was a massive day if you are an Oregon Duck fan. Both tight Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman all but cemented themselves as first-round picks after they both put on a show under the brightest of lights.
What Sadiq did with his time on the field should be commended. He tested pretty much as well as he possibly could have. He showed his speed, strength, and explosiveness, which everyone knew was there, but he proved it again for everyone to see.
Sadiq's testing results were mind-boggling. His 4.39 40-yard dash was faster than Jonothan Taylor, he had the same broad jump as Dez Bryant, and the same top-speed as Jahmyr Gibbs.
Sadiq is a big ball of clay that has a lot of development in his future. He has a limitless ceiling but also comes with a bit of a risk, just because his production on the field hasn't been the best.
Regardless, after his testing results, he is going to be worth the risk for at least one team in the first round in just about eight weeks.
It didn't stop there for the Ducks. Following up Sadiq's amazing on-field performance was Thieneman.
The highly-regarded safety is projected as the second-best safety prospect in this NFL Draft, and he went out and proved it on Friday.
He ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash and then hit the turf and continued to impress throughout the entire workout. He showed incredible athleticism in the testing period and fantastic football skills in the workout.
He, too, cemented himself as a first-round talent.
Each of them is projected to be a late first-round pick as high as pick 15 and as low as pick 27.
Thieneman is regarded as the second-best safety prospect in the draft after Ohio State's Caleb Downs. The best spot for Thieneman to land is likely with the Minnesota Vikings.
Minnesota has been a proven winner for years, and they could make him the heir to the safety position after Harrison Smith decides to hang them up.
For Sadiq, he could fit quite literally anywhere in the NFL. He would be a plug-and-play type of talent and one that could fit wherever he is selected.
To this point, my favorite landing spot for him is in Los Angeles with Justin Herbert and the Chargers. If he goes there, he nearly immediately takes the offense into the next tier.
The Ducks made themselves some money on Friday, and they will only continue to rise.
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