Fresh Kenyon Sadiq Intel From “The Beast”
April 9th, 2026
“The Beast” has been unleashed.
The definitive draft guide is now public. Each year Dane Brugler of The Athletic puts out an exhaustive draft guide that includes over 2,700 breakdowns of potential draft picks and undrafted free agent signees.
Joe has had to research prospects relying on position breakdowns and schlock drafts until Emory Hunt of CBS, the czar of the playbook, and Brugler published their draft guides this week.
Many — not all — but many schlock drafts have the Bucs selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq at No. 15. Joe has explained being good with that if it comes to pass.
And remember: Bucs coach Todd Bowles said at the Combine he believes in drafting the best player available in the first round and then attacking needs beginning on Day 2 of the draft.
If you think Bowles is conning you, just remember last year at the owners meetings, Bowles said he was 100 percent good if the Bucs drafted a skill position player in the first round over an inside linebacker.
Lo and behold, the Bucs drafted Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka in the first round.
So, since Brugler’s “The Beast” is fresh, Joe decided to check out Brugler’s analysis of Sadiq.
SUMMARY
A one-year starter at Oregon, Sadiq lined up across the formation but operated mostly out of the slot (58.5 percent of snaps) and inline (27.7 percent) in former offensive coordinator Will Stein’s balanced spread scheme. After backing up Terrance Ferguson for two seasons, Sadiq had his breakout in 2025, becoming the first player in Oregon history to win Big Ten Tight End of the Year honors. Despite sharing targets with talented fellow tight end Jamari Johnson, Sadiq led the Ducks with 51 catches, a program record for tight ends, and paced all FBS tight ends with eight touchdown grabs. A “Freaks List” alum who backed it up at the NFL combine, 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 can outpace coverage and win at all three levels. Although he needs to clean up the easy drops, he plays strong to the football and has put numerous high-difficulty grabs (some of which required wild adjustments) on tape. As a blocker, he needs continued technique work but competes with outstanding physicality to latch, drive and win his assignment. Overall, Sadiq has mismatch-creating potential in the NFL, because of his ability to out-quick and out-tough defenders as both a pass catcher and blocker. He projects as a versatile, Vernon Davis-like weapon and has his best football ahead of him.
Interesting that Brugler brought up how Sadiq was one of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” members. Feldman publishes that list every summer and it seems Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht loves to draft guys in the first round on Feldman’s Freak List.
It makes Joe drool to think the Bucs could have a versatile tight end who is a mismatch against linebackers and defensive backs — a guy who can and will stretch the field on one end and Cade Otton being the inline tight end on the other.
When new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson was in Atlanta, he ran a lot of two-tight-end sets.
Now, if you have to ask, “But Joe, the Bucs already have Payne Durham and Ko Kieft, why would they need another tight end?” Joe would reply, “You answered your own question.”
The Bucs are likely one tight end from being really dangerous on offense. The Bucs are four players, maybe more, from being good on defense.
An excellent offense might just be able to carry a leaky defense to the playoffs.
April 9th, 2026 at 12:23 am
Yep !
April 9th, 2026 at 12:26 am
Nice. Nice read, Joe.
April 9th, 2026 at 12:31 am
Most Wishlist by Round
1. Sadiq, TE
2. Hill, ILB
3. Banks, DT
4. Dennis—Sutton, Edge
April 9th, 2026 at 12:39 am
The Giants got Harbaugh whose going to turn them into a contender!
We got Bowles for another year.
No matter who they draft…we’re stuck with Bowles.
April 9th, 2026 at 12:43 am
No !!
April 9th, 2026 at 12:51 am
That’s a no for me…we need to get more trench warfare on the dline and corner that is shut down put the gate
April 9th, 2026 at 1:10 am
Stills was solid pick up. Don’t get it twisted
We need to find a gym wr in the later rounds.
so the scouts have to be on it. Hey someone might want to trade of for the kid.
April 9th, 2026 at 2:17 am
Draft him…figure out how to play him both ways. Freaks freak. Why not be our two-way freak?
WWCD?
Cowen.
April 9th, 2026 at 3:19 am
Lol. Not
April 9th, 2026 at 4:59 am
He’s a match up problem for LBs. That’s also a problem our defense has, covering backs, and TEs. Would rather have Rodriguez patrolling the middle of our defense.
April 9th, 2026 at 5:26 am
If they draft him, it won’t address the most urgent needs. The defense will still suck. We’ll be worse than last year. Bowles and Licht gone. Win, win.
April 9th, 2026 at 5:27 am
I’d be good with taking Sadiq at 15; it would be exciting to see what he’d do for our offense.
That said, if we can trade down and acquire extra picks, we really could use them.
If we can trade down, last an extra pick, and still land Sadiq, that would be a home run! But it would risk losing him.
April 9th, 2026 at 5:31 am
You forgot Devin Culp, Joe
April 9th, 2026 at 5:34 am
Hodad. For all it’s worth, I’m 100% with you. McDonald and Rodriguez and we’re good to go.
April 9th, 2026 at 6:33 am
I agree with Hodad. So as a solution, draft Sadiq- then move up and take Rodriguez too. Then all we need is a CB in the middle rounds (deep draft for them) and Uar Bernard late(304 lbs. 6% body fat DT).
That’s my draft. 🙂
April 9th, 2026 at 6:36 am
So he’s so good he was a one year starter and shared that role with another TE ?
No thanks, I’ll just keep saying it, he’s a one year wonder low production media darling. Rather have a NT. Joe I guess you forgot about Culp? If they want a TE
Oscar Delp will be a better pro
April 9th, 2026 at 6:50 am
Who did we pass up last year to Egbuka? Real question, no sarcasm.
April 9th, 2026 at 7:03 am
If Kenyon Sadiq is as good as they say he is
He wouldn’t be on the board at 15
That’s the thing about these mock drafts
They try to guess where players are going to fall
But the Elite players are guaranteed to jump off the board early
You will never see an Elite player on the board at 15, no way
At 15, you will see similar players at 25
April 9th, 2026 at 7:06 am
Anthony,
Probably best name we passed up was Jihad Campbell. Of course, there was James Peace as well, but glad we dodged that bullet
April 9th, 2026 at 7:27 am
I REALLY wanted Campbell, Philly took him at #31. Apparently everyone was afraid of his off-season surgery. Don’t think he did OTA’s, be he was ready for camp
April 9th, 2026 at 7:28 am
Joe didn’t we try this experiment last year with loading up the offense? How did that work put for us? Load up on the trenches please, get David’s replacement and find 2 quality cbs with the draft. We can’t keep punting on drafting top tier defensive players.
April 9th, 2026 at 7:44 am
Lakeland:
That’s a horrendous take.
So Gronk (3nd round) Kittle (5th) , Sharpe (7th round), Gates ( undrafted)weren’t elite??
This also is proves that most of the all time TE leaders weren’t taken in the first round. So why feel the need, for a team with many more glaring holes, to use a top 15 pick on a TE?
That would be a luxury pick. Now, if they feel they need to add a talented TE, this draft has a lot of good prospects that can be had later in the draft.
Please dont chase the shiny object…not this year, not now.
April 9th, 2026 at 7:54 am
Thank you DrunkBuc I couldn’t remember.
April 9th, 2026 at 7:56 am
The thing that would make me pro Sadiq signing is the fact that we have a better track record drafting offensive players in the first round then defensive players over the past few years, for some weird reason.
And we’ve been able to draft pretty good defensive players on day two and threee.
Would be interesting to have a TE that is this hard to cover but can still block and your in line guy on the other side is Otton, who isn’t too shabby.
April 9th, 2026 at 8:12 am
No, Bucs need to develop Durham. He has played well when given the chance. Bucs have so many holes in the defense this year that they have to draft for position. Will they?
April 9th, 2026 at 8:16 am
If you have the option to draft a pro bowl talent, you do it.
April 9th, 2026 at 8:27 am
Joe’s what concerns me is I don’t want this team to turn into the Bengals. Ya know, have a great offense and totally ignoring the defense to the point where the great offense can’t outscore how bad the defense is. I know the Bengals defense is BAD, but it would be cool to avoid that.
April 9th, 2026 at 8:27 am
He would be a great pick for the offense and would effect the opponents offense to keep pace with the Bucs explosive offense. When that happens mistakes are made.
April 9th, 2026 at 8:51 am
Stacking the offense hoping they score 40 every week to offset the porous garbage defense. Maybe Bowles knows hes a terrible defensive coordinator finally
April 9th, 2026 at 8:58 am
He might not be there at #15. You always have to wait for the pick to fall to yoou unless you are #1.
Ioane has a good chance of being there and he is a sure fire pick that would provide better protection for Baker.
He wouldn’t have to scramble as much.
April 9th, 2026 at 9:04 am
Joe didn’t forget about him. The Bucs forgot about him.
April 9th, 2026 at 9:15 am
I’m sure Licht loves this. There’s a guy everyone latches on to every year and we’re always wrong
April 9th, 2026 at 9:15 am
He will be gone by 15. Still think he goes to KC at 9.
April 9th, 2026 at 9:25 am
Baker had the most weapons on offense in his life last year and didnt make the playoffs lol….
and folks think adding a rookie TE will somehow elevate this offense to scoring 30+ points?…you guys are clowns
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 9th, 2026 at 10:01 am
I can’t get past his mediocre production
April 9th, 2026 at 10:08 am
@813: Bucky, Mike and Chris were hurt for many games and the TE’s were helping to cover for the hurt linemen,……….. but whatever makes you happy.
April 9th, 2026 at 10:46 am
All the fascination with Culp. I don’t get it.
If Culp was any good, he’d be playing. There’s a reason he isn’t and it’s not the “we don’t know what we have” nonsense.
April 9th, 2026 at 10:51 am
But can he tip toe in motion across the line, telegraph the running play and then slam into a nose tackle and block for a run that nets a two yard loss?
April 9th, 2026 at 12:28 pm
Fanofdabucs
I’m not saying every 1st round pick will be an elite NFL player
I’m saying that these so- call experts label draft picks as elite, average etc
And the so-called elite prospects are guaranteed to be a top 10 pick
That’s how they work their draft boards
That’s not how l operate my draft board
It’s all guess work, no one knows how they will perform in the NFL
I work my draft board different, l judge a player by their production
College and high school production, instead of their measurements
April 9th, 2026 at 12:32 pm
And l still believe that Eli Stowers is the most NFL ready TE in the draft
April 9th, 2026 at 1:45 pm
I will be EXTREMELY upset if the Bucs don’t go D in rounds 1 and 2. I’m a JL supporter, but if he ignores the D again, I’m for firing him along with Bowles after what will surely be another sub-500 season.
April 9th, 2026 at 2:36 pm
Still shocked that Joe and many of you other clowns think adding Sadiq will turn us into a 30 points per game offense. Just stupid the even think that. Sadiq will make a little dent in the league in 3 years, if them. Combine star with low proof it translates on the field yet
April 9th, 2026 at 3:28 pm
Considering his physical attributes, isnt it strange that he was only a starter for one year? There’s always comments about that but not for this player?
April 9th, 2026 at 3:46 pm
3rd round draft pick he is
April 11th, 2026 at 9:40 am
I wouldnt be mad at it but with all the TE talent in the draft not sure they need to go TE at 15. Time will tell.