Kenyon Sadiq 4.39

6’3” 245, turns 21 next week. This guy killed the Gophers if I recall…

He's literally just a pup. Could be another Vernon Davis. The thing that disappointed me though was his end to the season;

- 4 catches for 11 yds at Washington
- 2 catches for 19 yds vs JMU (playoff)
- 4 catches for 22 yds vs Texas Tech (playoff)
- 5 catches for 29 yds vs Indiana (playoff)

Zero touchdowns.

In Oregons regular season loss to Indiana; 2 catches for 21 yds, 0 TD's. For a guy so athletically dominant, why such a pedestrian, non impactful end to the season? I had actually heard somewhere that another TE on the Oregon roster overtook Sadiq in playing time as the year went on. Tantalizing athletic talent, but wtf?

supafreak84 wrote:
He's literally just a pup. Could be another Vernon Davis. The thing that disappointed me though was his end to the season;

- 4 catches for 11 yds at Washington
- 2 catches for 19 yds vs JMU (playoff)
- 4 catches for 22 yds vs Texas Tech (playoff)
- 5 catches for 29 yds vs Indiana (playoff)

Zero touchdowns.

In Oregons regular season loss to Indiana; 2 catches for 21 yds, 0 TD's. For a guy so athletically dominant, why such a pedestrian, non impactful end to the season? I had actually heard somewhere that another TE on the Oregon roster overtook Sadiq in playing time as the year went on. Tantalizing athletic talent, but wtf?

I like your comparison regarding Vernon Davis.  I loved me some Vernon when he came out of college.

Sadiq's issue IMO is his inconsistent hands.  He may not be the best blocking TE either, but with his speed and talent, he needs to be more like Cris Carter than Troy Williamson.

StickierBuns wrote:

That's my only concern with him.

Drafting a TE with this concern, that also has issues with blocking, just isn't worth the 1st round risk. I like Sadiq alot. I was just assume another team takes that risk

TEs are like S to D,  they have to be Swiss army knives. A TE that can't block is a WR,  a TE that can't catch is a OT,  one that can do neither better hope he can read a defense and throw a football or there really isn't a role for them.

To consider a TE in the first they better be either a dominant pass catcher or extremely well rounded,  we know TEs typically are slow to adapt to the pro game which already makes them tough to target in round 1.

As TEs appear better ready to play in the NFL lately with Bowers and McBride having early success, I might be more open to breaking my long-standing policy of never taking a TE in the 1st round. But I don't think Sadiq is the player who's going to break it. Great athlete but he's inconsistent, he'll drop a few, and he's not a very good blocker or route runner. Vikings should just restructure Hockenson.

I luv the thought of another weapon, and my gut says TJH's best is in the rear view mirror...

But we go so many other pressing needs right now (CB IDL ILB) that I dont think we can afford a TE at 18.

IceRatz16 wrote:


I like your comparison regarding Vernon Davis.  I loved me some Vernon when he came out of college.


Sadiq's issue IMO is his inconsistent hands.  He may not be the best blocking TE either, but with his speed and talent, he needs to be more like Cris Carter than Troy Williamson.

A lot ultimately just depends on what happens with Hockenson. We've heard all offseason that he would be a cut candidate and if that comes to fruition that leaves us Josh Oliver, who gives you very little in the way of being a consistent threat as a pass catcher, and a whole bunch of nothing. With OConnell now essentially calling the shots, there's no way he leaves that position without a pass catching threat in his offense. For the Vikings, Sadiq wouldn't have to worry about blocking responsibility as much with Oliver in the fold, and could just worry about getting down the seam and catching passes.

Like I said, in most years you can usually narrow down a position or two of high need in the draft, but the Vikings could literally look for help or upgrades at almost every position.

We need young, D blue chip talent and a RB.

They just can't rely on BFlo working the same schematic magic again in 26 + I'd like to see us rush w/out having to blitz so often.

Tier 1 need: IDL/CB (this assumes Allen, Hargrave both gone)

Tier 1a need: ILB/RB
- Jones Sr is done
- IPJ starting? No thx and Cashman will miss games again, Wilson wrong side of 30.

Tier 2 need: TE, everything else but kicker

Pats and Seahawks both made the SB with strong D's. 

Vikings strength is defense and it needs some fresh, starting  blood!

Kenyon Sadiq, the tight end for the Oregon Ducks, has made a significant impact in the 2025 season with his impressive performance. However, he has also faced challenges, including six drops during the season.

That's six drive killers...

Montana Tom wrote:
Kenyon Sadiq, the tight end for the Oregon Ducks, has made a significant impact in the 2025 season with his impressive performance. However, he has also faced challenges, including six drops during the season.

That's six drive killers...

Sadiq  game doesn't match his measurelables. Freak athlete that disappears.

Same people that were  high on nix, are not high on Sadiq.

purplefaithful wrote:
We need young, D blue chip talent and a RB.

They just can't rely on BFlo working the same schematic magic again in 26 + I'd like to see us rush w/out having to blitz so often.

Tier 1 need: IDL/CB (this assumes Allen, Hargrave both gone)

Tier 1a need: ILB/RB
- Jones Sr is done
- IPJ starting? No thx and Cashman will miss games again, Wilson wrong side of 30.

Tier 2 need: TE, everything else but kicker

Pats and Seahawks both made the SB with strong D's. 

Vikings strength is defense and it needs some fresh, starting  blood!

You forgot Safety in that mix,   definitely a day 1 or early day 2 need.

JimmyinSD wrote:

You forgot Safety in that mix,   definitely a day 1 or early day 2 need.

Yup - definitely 1/1a

Makes me wonder if the Viking would be a Safety FA player for Nick Cross (Colts)...

I know he's on the younger side, not sure of scheme fit?

SI says:
Colts safety Nick Cross hits free agency after recording 120 total tackles—fourth among safeties—2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception in 2025. At just 24 years old, Cross is one of the youngest players hitting free agency, adding to his upside.

No need to get excited, Vikings looking at day 3 TE’s in this draft….

purplefaithful wrote:

Yup - definitely 1/1a

Makes me wonder if the Viking would be a Safety FA player for Nick Cross (Colts)...

I know he's on the younger side, not sure of scheme fit?

SI says:
Colts safety Nick Cross hits free agency after recording 120 total tackles—fourth among safeties—2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception in 2025. At just 24 years old, Cross is one of the youngest players hitting free agency, adding to his upside.

Isn't Cross more a Strong Safety than a Free Safety? Seems to me he's a tackling machine that is more comfortable near the line.  I've seen some rumblings of Bryan Cook who might be a better fit for our needs going forward.

Kentis wrote:
No need to get excited, Vikings looking at day 3 TE’s in this draft….

They could use another Bartholomew.

On Friday, SKOR North's Thor Nystrom shared on his "Thor Talks Purple" podcast that while being in attendance for this week's NFL Scouting Combine, he was told that the Vikings reportedly plan to retain Hockenson for the 2026 season.

I hope so. From what I've been able to gather, cutting him, trading him and keeping him all come out to nearly the same $$$. And his tepid performance the last two seasons is obviously more related to the injury and the QB play than any kind of decline. He's only 28. Vikings should keep him because replacing that kind of talent is going to be incredible hard...and expensive.

MaroonBells wrote:
On Friday, SKOR North's Thor Nystrom shared on his "Thor Talks Purple" podcast that while being in attendance for this week's NFL Scouting Combine, he was told that the Vikings reportedly plan to retain Hockenson for the 2026 season.

I hope so. From what I've been able to gather, cutting him, trading him and keeping him all come out to nearly the same $$$. And his tepid performance the last two seasons is obviously more related to the injury and the QB play than any kind of decline. He's only 28. Vikings should keep him because replacing that kind of talent is going to be incredible hard...and expensive.

I dont see the same money thing,  cutting him with a post June 1st designation creates a cap hit of 5m, with savings of 15m this year,  next year the hit is 8m with a savings of 18m if i am see it correctly.  I do agree that a lot of his fall off is having to stay in and help the OL block,  but also the velocity that those balls were being thrown,  JJM was not throwing a very catchable ball on most timing routes as he used higher velocity to compensate for seeing it late IMO.  That should improve with trusting what he is reading and throwing a better ball.

I don't know. According to Judd, Hockenson just doesn't move the same out on the field live as he did prior to injury and it's noticeable. So there's that, along with the drop in production that makes me think moving on, saving cap, and getting younger at the position is the better option for us. There are a couple interesting options in free agency that could be had without having to shell out top 5 TE money on a contract including Cade Otten, Isaiah Likely, and Kyle Pitts amongst others.