If J.J. McCarthy lives up to the confidence of head coach Kevin O’Connell, then they have their long-term starter. If he’s their long-term starter, then they’ll need to keep giving him weapons to work with, especially since he’ll be entering year three of his rookie deal next year.
They already have wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running backs Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason in place. They also have one of the best offensive lines in football, anchored by Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, and first-round pick Donovan Jackson.
They have a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end in T.J. Hockenson, a legit weapon with 382 receptions, 4,002 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns in his career. However, he is coming off ACL/MCL injuries and a PUP start in 2024, making his availability a constant question in the future.
Who Will the Vikings Tap to be a Weapon at Tight End?
PFSN has mocked up the first three rounds of 2026, and we see the Vikings going after Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
“Kenyon Sadiq is a certified freak. He is long, explosive, and is an absolute menace with the ball in his hands. He only played a handful of snaps as he split time with Terrance Ferguson last season, but he will be the focal point for the Ducks’ offense in 2025.”
“Quarterback J.J. McCarthy loves to throw to tight ends, and while T.J. Hockenson is in the fold, adding a talent like Sadiq would make this offense impossible to defend.”
The Vikings’ tight end room is filled out by Josh Oliver, who is more of a blocking asset than a pass catcher. He can maul linebackers in blocking, but he only got 22 receptions, 258 yards, and three touchdowns in 2024.
Behind him are developmental projects Gavin Bartholomew (R6, 2025) and UDFA’s Bryon Nesbit and Ben Yorsek. That means the Vikings are one injury away from relying on Oliver or one of three untested rookies.
As mentioned, McCarthy spent his college career relying on tight ends. Considering the modern trend of teams tailoring their offenses to fit a quarterback’s skill set, it makes sense for the Vikings to target a big, physical player. If it turns out that Sadiq becomes a focal point in the Oregon offense, he would be a prime candidate to be a top target both in the draft and on the field.
All that remains is to see whether McCarthy is the Vikings’ man for all seasons and if Sadiq develops into the top-end prospect he projects to be.