This Oregon Ducks star is being projected to replace this future Hall-of-Famer in the NFL.
The Oregon Ducks have two players expected to fly off the board in the first round of the NFL Draft next month: tight end Kenyon Sadiq and safety Dillon Thieneman.
Thieneman has been a late rise, but Sadiq has been widely viewed as a first-round selection all along, with most having him going in the teens.
However, Bucky Brooks of NFL.com actually has Sadiq slipping in his latest mock draft, projecting him to fall to the back end of the first round.
The good news for Sadiq is that Brooks has the star pass-catcher landing in a fantastic spot, as Brooks is predicting the Kansas City Chiefs to take him at No. 29.
"Despite the fact that Travis Kelce just signed a three-year deal, the 36-year-old's best days are behind him. But he could show this explosive pass catcher the ropes in Kansas City, where Andy Reid has no problem incorporating multiple tight ends," Brooks wrote. "Sadiq's ultra-athletic game would be a boon to Patrick Mahomes, allowing the quarterback to continue attacking the middle of the field for the foreseeable future."
Kelce has contemplated retirement each of the last couple of seasons, so it seems hard to imagine the veteran sticking around for three more years.
Kenyon Sadiq. Credit: Robert Goddin-Imagn Images.Make no mistake: if the Chiefs select Sadiq, it will be to eventually replace Kelce, who could depart football as soon as next offseason.
And in the meantime, Kansas City can employ two tight-end sets featuring Kelce and Sadiq, as Brooks noted.
Sadiq hauled in 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns this past season, marking his most productive campaign at Oregon.
The 21-year-old arrived at Eugene in 2023 but did not begin to earn legitimate playing time until his sophomore year, when he caught 24 passes for 308 yards and a pair of scores.
Sadiq then proceeded to lead the Ducks in catches during his final season with the team, establishing himself as an elite NFL Draft prospect.
The 6-foot-3, 241-pound weapon has drawn comparisons to Antonio Gates due to his blend of size and athleticism, but unlike Gates, Sadiq is actually a very good blocker.
Of course, Sadiq may never even come close to reaching Gates' level as a playmaker, but the fact that the comparisons exist demonstrates just how enticing of a prospect Sadiq actually is.
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