It’s absurd that Kenyon Sadiq had to explain himself after setting a record run for TEs at the NFL combine. But there’s always a catch, and in his case, some critics are saying he isn’t a willing blocker. So at Oregon’s pro day on March 17, he dove right in to address this misconception. 

“Anyone that says I’m not a willing blocker obviously doesn’t watch any film,” Kenyon Sadiq said. “There’s a lot of people on Twitter and stuff like that. There is definitely room for improvement. But no, I definitely still think I’m one, if not the best blocking tight end in the class.”

His confidence is admirable, but it carries weight. Kenyon Sadiq is one of the top-5 most versatile prospects per PFF. He spent the bulk of his time in the slot, but he also saw time at line, where he recorded 30.5 percent of his snaps, and out wide for 12.8 percent of his snaps. On over 10% of his pass-blocking snaps, he didn’t allow a single pressure on QB Dante Moore.

In Dan Lanning’s physical offensive scheme, tight ends do not see the field if they tend to shy away from contact. While Sadiq’s pass-protection numbers are flawless, his tape shows him routinely sealing the edge on outside zone runs, which proves that he’s much more than just an oversized slot receiver.

Kenyon Sadiq also showed pure athleticism at the NFL combine. He ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash and became the first TE to ever do that. 

“Yeah, that was definitely a goal,” he said at pro day. “I didn’t want to put it out there because I didn’t want any expectations, but it was definitely a goal to hit that 4.3. So as soon as I saw a 4.4 twice in a row, man, I was pretty bummed out. But as soon as they picked up the official 4.3, man, I was really happy, so that was my goal.”

That unprecedented burst is exactly what fueled the doubts when it comes to blocking. When a tight end ends up clocking wide-receiver times, the natural assumption among the scouts is that the player may not have the grit for trench warfare. Sadiq is aware that his historic speed is a double-edged sword, which is why he used his pro day to hammer home his physicality.

The last TE to tie a 4.40 record with Vernon Davis was Dorin Dickerson in 2010. Speed, however, is just one aspect of his talent. He also recorded a 43.5-inch vertical and an 11-foot-1 broad jump. And then Kenyon Sadiq followed it with a pro day that backed everything up, which brings us to how NFL teams are viewing him now. 

Kenyon Sadiq is prepared for what’s ahead

At the Moshofsky Center, it was a statement. Scouts from 31 out of 32 teams showed up, and Kenyon Sadiq didn’t give them anything to doubt. His routes were clean with controlled movements, and his hands were reliable. Teams are noticing. The Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9, the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13, and the Philadelphia Eagles at No. 23 have all been linked. Even the Denver Broncos are a potential trade-up candidate, especially with the Bo Nix connection.

At 6’3, 241 pounds, and just 21 years old, Kenyon Sadiq checks every measurable box. Dan Lanning’s fingerprints are all over Kenyon Sadiq’s development. Oregon’s staff demanded aggressive blocking to complement his route-running and transformed him from a raw athlete into a complete weapon. That rigorous coaching standard is why Sadiq felt fully equipped to shut down the noise created by the draft season.

“It’s been really good,” he said about the meetings with the teams. “Coach Dan Lanning played a huge role in that, getting me prepared mentally, concepts, and scheme-wise. At my position, the role I play is being able to know everything, I think, is huge.”

Historically, Oregon hasn’t been a pipeline for first-round TEs. You have to go all the way back to Russ Francis in 1975 to find one taken that high. It remains to be seen if Kenyon Sadiq can change that narrative.