“Sadiq Is A Name To Watch Here”
April 20th, 2026
More Zac Robinson chatter, the Bucs’ new offensive coordinator.
Joe is somewhat confused by all the chatter about how new Bucs offensive coordinator liking two-tight-end sets last year while calling plays for the Falcons somehow ties to the Bucs’ thoughts in Thursday’s NFL Draft.
Anyone know who Charlie Woerner is?
He was the blocking tight end playing opposite Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts. Woerner made 13 starts and played in all 17 games. He caught 8 balls last year for 48 yards.
It’s highly likely the Falcons ran so many two-tight-end sets because that best used their personnel. They needed to block for All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson, and they had a very thin receiving corps after No. 1 receiver Drake London.
Joe doubts using two tight ends was or is Robinson’s preferred approach.
Robinson is a Sean McVay disciple and McVay wasn’t much of a two-tight-end guy until last year when his receiver options after Puka Nacua and Devante Adams were flimsy. Liam Coen, also a McVay disciple and Robinson’s best friend, is not a two-tight-end guy, either. That’s why the Jaguars loaded up on receivers last offseason, and at the trade deadline.
Sports Illustrated super insider Albert Breer pumped out a look at the NFL Draft today focused on what he’s hearing across the league, with chatter for each team.
Breer doesn’t rule out the Bucs drafting Oregon tight end Keynon Sadiq in Round 1 — and some of that he tied to Robinson.
What you need to know: Yes, this pick is probably going to be a defensive player. That said, Sadiq is a name to watch here, with new OC Zac Robinson having a readymade role for him in how he used Kyle Pitts Jr. in Atlanta last year. If the Buccaneers do look for defense, edge would loom as the biggest immediate need. And assuming Bain is off the board, along with Bailey and Reese, they might have the dilemma of taking a hard look at Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor. Plenty of scouts prefer Mesidor’s tape and physical profile to Bain’s, but his college career was pockmarked by injuries, and he just turned 25. To take him this high, you’d have to really like him as a player. Meanwhile, if you’re looking at corner, the injury risk on McCoy at this stage of the first round may be too great. So would it be too early to look at his teammate Hood?
The Bucs have three strong receivers — Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan — and a solid starting tight end they’re paying $10 million per year in Cade Otton. Robinson/Todd Bowles will want those guys on the field.
The Bucs also have receiver Tez Johnson and newcomer running back Kenny Gainwell, who played plenty of slot receiver last season in Pittsburgh.
Adding weapons is great, but so is getting a significant impact from a rookie pick in Year 1.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
Spot on analysis Joe.
The whole 2 TE, 12 personal talk is much about nothing. As mentioned, the Falcons had one good WR and a TE that was used more like a WR. Just because Pitts was on the field with an actual blocking TE, they say 12 personal.
The Bucs have much better WRs who will be in the line-up in 3 WR sets more than 2 TEs.
Adding a TE is a total luxury pick and I just can’t see it happening, unless the Bucs are forced to pick at 15 and JL has Sadiq as the clear BPA over guys like Ioane, Mesidor, McCoy, etc.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:38 pm
It won’t be Sadiq or Mesidor.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:41 pm
Unless these rankings out there are off, Licht may have to trade up. I’m for it if it is the right pick.
Of course, even with the rankings…these players can still bust.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:42 pm
Will Kacmarek, Ohio State
April 20th, 2026 at 2:43 pm
Thursday cant get here fast enough lol
JL would be foolish to select Sadiq @15 with our current OL
GO BUCS!!!!!
April 20th, 2026 at 2:50 pm
Jacob Rodriguez is the pick to click. Just do it.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:53 pm
Im with you Gipper..J Rob would be a great get that would fill a huge need.
April 20th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Mechanic: Your brakes have failed and need to be replaced, especially in the wet weather here in Tampa.
Licht and Bowles: Nah, give us new tires instead. If we drive faster the brakes won’t matter. We can just slap some duct tape on those brakes.
Glazers: Love the culture!!!!
April 20th, 2026 at 2:55 pm
Bonzai,
I’m not sure what you are referring to with the rankings?
They wouldn’t need to trade up for either Mesidor or Sadiq.
Also, just because a guy might be ranked number 1, ie Love, doesnt mean he goes number 1.
April 20th, 2026 at 3:02 pm
Sadiq is supposed to be all that. He is not even in the same league as Cade Otten. When this team gets on a playoff roll, which we will, then the fans and pundits across the country will get to see what kind of football player Cade is. Talk about underrated. I’m not sure I would trade him for another tight end in the league. Laugh all you want. I’m being dead serious. He’s our second best player on the team. Nobody is better than Tristan Wirfs. Mauch, Goedecke, and Bredeson are also in our top 10 players. Barton has a chance to get there this year. Godwin is our 3rd most valuable with JMac and Emeka close behind. Oh yeah. Mayfield is up there too. I’ve been accused of not having enough sense to come in out of the rain. But I’ve got plenty enough sense to know we’re doubling down on defense this year. And I ain’t whistling Dixie!
April 20th, 2026 at 3:04 pm
Mike Evans leaving for SF articles – 1,250
Sadiq to Tampa articles – 1,225
Writers block is a real think people. Check on your loved ones.
April 20th, 2026 at 3:05 pm
If the first 4-5 picks are not all on defense Licht needs to be fired
April 20th, 2026 at 3:23 pm
Otton in a league of his own huh. I hope you sent him gloves for Christmas, that ball he gave away last year was highly disappointing.
April 20th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
Take a deep breath….We are not wasting our 1st pick on this guy. End of story.
April 20th, 2026 at 3:31 pm
NO! Plus i think he’s gone by 15 anyway. DEFENSE PLEASE!
April 20th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Lots of hyberbolic takes in here, which is not surprising.
First 4-5 picks have to be all defense or JL needs to be fired? Funny stuff. I think adding a stud guard would be wise. I also wouldn’t be surprised with either another TE or WR.
While I agree defense should be the primary focus, drafting an offensive player in the first 5 picks is likely to happen.
Otton, who I happen to like, is the 2nd best player on the team? He’s a solid TE who has improved a lot as a blocker, but isnt’ overly fast and can drop some catchable balls.
April 20th, 2026 at 3:38 pm
3 Reasons to Draft Sadiq:
1. Sets up Zack for Success.
He loves TE. Kyle had just under 1000 yard rec and 5 TD. Let him thrive.
2. Dynamic 2xTE Sets.
Sadiq and Otton set up the run and pass. Bucky gets an extra blocker and Baker thrives with intermediate passes.
3. He Could Become at Top TE.
Teams with top TE do pretty well in today’s NFL.
4. Defense is Available in Rounds 2-7
My favorite MLB and Edges will go in Rounds 2-4. Bucs can afford this pick.
April 20th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
They call Kyle Pitts a TE
But Kyle Pitts mostly would line up as a WR
That’s why the Falcons was not drafting, or signing free agents WR
In reality he’s a 6’6 WR, not a TE
April 20th, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Trade down and get more pics. Get a trench player and snag one of the good ILBs in round two. Snag the 2nd or 3rd ranked TE instead.
April 20th, 2026 at 4:03 pm
Defense!
April 20th, 2026 at 4:11 pm
If Baker isnt protected, he cant BAKE!!! ….so simple
IOANE
April 20th, 2026 at 4:27 pm
Warren Brooks Lynch is spot on. Will Kacmarek was the other TE at Ohio State and compares well with Charlie Woerner. There are no question’s about Kacmarek’s blocking. Like zero- ziltch but the Bucs just resigned Ko Kieft as well as Otton so I’m not buying this the Bucs are hot for a TE poppycock. If they must draft a TE let it be Kacmarek later on day 3. Culp started the 2025 season getting a consistent handful of snaps but from mid season on he was barely used. I don’t think the Bucs see much future in him.
I’m not enamored with Sadiq the prospect. He is simply the best player at a fashionable position. Additionally, on top of two freshly resigned TEs the Bucs have two receivers who can block, be third down safety blankets and red zone targets in Godwin and Egbuka. The Bucs drafting a TE or even another WR high is like hauling sand to the beach.
On top of all that, purely from the dollars and cents perspective it rarely makes sense to draft a TE in the first round because no TE has ever made $20 million for a season of NFL football. Otton is making $10 and is solid plus at the position. Kelce made $17 mil in 2025. Kittle jumped from $15 mil to join McBride at the top at $19 million. These are comparable numbers to #2/3 WRs, CBs and edge/DL and bottom tier QBs. The winningest teams in the league are the same group that get the most performance out of a player relative to the dollar amount of their slotted salary rookie contract versus paying what that performance would be worth on their second contract which is set by the market for the position.
I like Dylan a Thieneman a ton but I could never take him at 15 because of positional value on the open market and the slotted rookie deals. Same goes for Ioane and Sadiq and even Love at 15 based purely from the bean counter perspective which translates to retained players and more free agency flexibility down the line.
Take Love top 5? Dumb whether he pans out or not when you can get the best in the game for $20 mil. Take Beck or Allar in the back half of the first? Genius, actually if you have QB questions and Geno Smith made $40 mil guaranteed in 2025.
Mesidor makes sense from the prospect/performance, positional and penny-pinching perspectives so remains my guy at 15..
April 20th, 2026 at 4:43 pm
If they are going to go guard, give me Proctor over Ioane. He’s more athletic and can play RT if Luke continues to struggle with injuries.
6’7″ 360 lbs next to Wirfs would be stellar.