Imagine if Rams inside linebacker Nate Landman (6-foot-3, 234 pounds) could move like Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (5-9, 202 pounds). That's essentially the physical profile that Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq put on display at the NFL Scouting Combine last week.
Recent mock drafts from Yahoo! Sports, The Philadelphia Inquirer and ESPN have the Rams selecting Sadiq with pick No. 13 in the 2026 NFL Draft. If that were to happen, it would be the second-straight year where the Rams spent their first pick in the draft on an Oregon tight end, essentially solidifying their unparalleled reliance on 13 personnel (three tight ends).
This is not an endorsement of Sadiq by the Rams, nor is it an indication that they are targeting him. This is simply a reflection of external media linking Sadiq to Los Angeles in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Here's a scouting report on Sadiq and what he could bring to the Rams' offense:
Scouting Report
Sadiq's 4.39-second 40-yard dash time was the fastest by a tight end at the combine since at least 2003. His top speed of 23.24 miles per hour during that run matched Gibbs' top speed during his 4.36-second 40 in 2023, according to Next Gen Stats. But Sadiq weighed in at 241 pounds, 42 pounds heavier than the Lions' superstar running back (199 at the combine). He also tied for the second-best tight end vertical leap and broad jump since 2003 (43.5 inches and 11-foot-1, respectively).
In other words, Sadiq is an otherworldly athlete. But he was considered a top tight end in this class before his absurd testing catapulted him to the unquestioned No. 1 spot in most analysts' eyes.
His production drove that conclusion, as Sadiq led the Ducks with 51 receptions and eight touchdowns in 2025 and ranked second on the team with 560 receiving yards. But on top of that, his tape tells the story of a refined prospect who uses his physical edge to beat a wide variety of defenders in the passing game and block above his station in the run game.
Lance Zierlein of NFL Network wrote that Sadiq "gets in and out of breaks with good snap and separation" and also "vandalizes defensive seams with impunity against man coverage." Zierlein and Daniel Harms of Bleacher Report both highlighted how athleticism leads to extra yards after the catch and good leverage on his blocks. It's not often that an elite athlete like Sadiq displays more-than-capable blocking chops at tight end, but that seems to be the consensus on Sadiq.
He served as somewhat of a chess piece for Oregon, taking snaps in the slot, out wide at receiver and in the backfield. Rams head coach Sean McVay play-calling creativity could put opposing defenses in a pre-snap purgatory if he were to move Sadiq around.
His only consistent knocks are concentration drops and sloppy route-running at times, but both of those are teachable and an athlete like Sadiq is likely to improve in those areas. Overall, Sadiq is one of the most exciting prospects in this draft and is primed to make an instant impact in the league.
Fit
The Rams' 30.5% 13 personnel rate last year was the highest by a team in the Next Gen Stats Era (since 2016) by nearly 13%. McVay said this week that he's hopeful 13 personnel will continue to be a part of the team's strategy next season provided they "have the guys that can bring it to life." If Sadiq were drafted to Los Angeles, it would all but guarantee that approach remains or even expands next season.
"Sadiq would give Sean McVay another field stretcher and yards-after-catch option while still deploying heavy bodies, with some grit as a blocker as a nice bonus," Nate Tice and Charles McDonald of Yahoo! Sports wrote in a recent mock draft. "Sadiq would not only help the Rams for 2026, but he also shores up the position long-term for the Rams as they have several pending tight end free agents in 2027."
The Rams also frequently lined up or motioned tight ends into the backfield as full backs to lead block or run routes out of the backfield. Sadiq has experience with that, and he'll have a former teammate at Oregon, Terrance Ferguson, to show him the ropes.
Veteran tight end Tyler Higbee is still contemplating his future and, regardless, is a pending free agent. So, the Rams could have a real need at the tight end position if Higbee doesn't return. And if he does, the Rams would still have a role for three-plus tight ends.
"Sadiq serves as an extra receiver and would give the Rams a versatile game breaker they don't have at the position," Jordan Reid of ESPN wrote in a recent mock draft. "And while he is known for his receiving... Sadiq is also a physical run blocker."
In 2024, Los Angeles' tight ends combined for 51 catches, 459 receiving yards and three touchdowns. That jumped up to 103 receptions, 1,128 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns in 2025. All four of their tight ends registered over 200 receiving yards and three-plus touchdowns. If the Rams take Sadiq in the first round, expect those number to inflate again in 2026.
