Kenyon Sadiq to Eagles? Why a First-Round Tight End Isn't as Crazy as It Sounds

The Tight End Problem

The Eagles have a tight end room that needs a complete overhaul. If Dallas Goedert doesn't return — and that's looking increasingly likely — Philadelphia needs someone who can step in and produce immediately. The 2026 NFL Draft might have the answer, and his name is Kenyon Sadiq.

Oregon's dynamic tight end is the clear TE1 in this class, and with the Combine starting next Monday, his stock is only going to rise. The question isn't whether the Eagles are interested. It's whether he'll still be on the board at pick 23.

The Brock Bowers Effect

The NFL has changed its calculus on first-round tight ends. Brock Bowers' immediate impact as a rookie, following the success of Sam LaPorta, La'Michael Loveland, and Ty Warren, has proven that an elite tight end can transform an offense from Day 1. Every team running some variation of the Shanahan/McVay system — which is now essentially the entire league — needs a dynamic receiving tight end.

Sadiq fits that mold perfectly. He's the only tight end in this draft class who truly belongs in the first round, which makes him a target for teams looking to trade up ahead of the Eagles' pick.

The BPA vs. Need Debate

The Eagles have long preached best player available in the first round. Howie Roseman doesn't draft for need — at least not exclusively. But when need and talent align, that's when you pull the trigger.

The last first-round tight end the Eagles drafted was Keith Jackson. That's how long it's been. But the Eagles also hadn't drafted an off-ball linebacker in the first round since Jerry Robinson until they took Jihad Campbell. Precedent isn't destiny.

If Sadiq is the best player on their board at 23, position shouldn't matter. And given the state of the tight end room, he could be exactly the kind of immediate-impact selection that accelerates the offense under Sean Manion.

The Depth Behind Sadiq

The good news is this tight end class has solid depth in rounds two and three — Eli Stowers from Vanderbilt, Max Clare from Ohio State, Jack Endries from Texas, Michael Trigg from Baylor, Justin Jolly from NC State. So even if Sadiq goes before 23, the Eagles can still address the position.

But Sadiq is different. He's a matchup nightmare, a legitimate first-round talent who could immediately fill the void Goedert leaves behind. Don't be surprised if the Eagles trade up a few spots to secure him. With the Combine showcase next week, his value is about to crystallize — and Philadelphia needs to be ready to strike.