Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is one of the bigger names participating in the 2026 NFL Combine. He proved his talent in a phenomenal fashion on Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium, as he finished near the top across multiple drills and testing categories.
Kenyon Sadiq Breaks Records and Leaves NFL Scouts Talking in Combine Interviews
Sadiq said on Thursday he hoped to put together one of the best Combine performances, and he did that on Friday. His official 40-yard dash clocked in at 4.39 seconds, marking the fastest time ever recorded by a tight end in NFL Combine history. The next fastest tight end times this year came from SMU’s RJ Maryland and Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, both of whom reportedly recorded 4.51-second runs.
The previous benchmark for athletic tight ends was set by former San Francisco 49ers star Vernon Davis, who ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at 254 pounds back in 2006.
Sadiq’s day at the Combine was impressive beyond just the 40-yard dash. He recorded a 43.5-inch vertical jump, the second-best ever by a tight end, and an 11’1″ broad jump, ranking third all-time at the position. He initially tied the tight end vertical jump record before Stowers surpassed him with a 45.5-inch leap and a slightly longer 11’3’’ broad jump.
Sadiq is listed at 6 feet 3 and 241 pounds, which is ideal for a tight end, providing both the height to match up against taller defenders and the weight to execute effective blocks early in his career. Some had earlier speculated he might measure slightly shorter at 6-foot-2.
Meanwhile, Sadiq’s Combine success extends beyond physical feats, as he is also crushing his interviews, as NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo also said:
“Walking into interviews and explaining exactly what everybody else’s assignment is. I had one guy say ‘it was the best interview I’ve ever had’.”
Sadiq will definitely benefit from a league trend favoring versatile tight ends who can handle both blocking and receiving duties. NFL.com describes him as “adequate as a blocker,” but his mindset shows he is ready to do whatever it takes to help his team win.
Sadiq spent three seasons at Oregon, primarily as a backup, before stepping into the starting tight end role last year. His breakout season in 2025 helped boost him as the top tight end in the 2026 draft class, and Friday’s combine performance is now another plus point.
Sadiq recorded 80 catches for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns in his Oregon career. His 2025 season alone accounted for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, earning him the No. 11 spot nationally in the PFSN’s College Football TE Impact Metric with a score of 82.2.
