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New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq thought one of the most important calls of his life was a prank.
The Jets drafted Sadiq with the 16th pick in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday, but the 21-year-old wasn’t so sure at first.
“Kenyon, how are you? This is Darren Mougey from the New York Jets,” Jets general manager Darren Mougey said to start the phone call.
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Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq warms up before the College Football Playoff semifinal game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Oregon Ducks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on January 9, 2026. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I’m fine. How are you?” Sadiq replied.
“You’re doing great. We’re going to pick you here and make you a New York Jet,” Mougey responded.
“OK. I appreciate it,” Sadiq said, still looking a little worried that he was actually talking to Mougey and not a prankster.
The former Oregon star seemed to realize his NFL draft dreams were coming true when head coach Aaron Glenn called.
“Kenyon, how are you, buddy?” » Glenn asked.
“I’m good. I’m excited, coach,” Sadiq said.
“Good. We’re excited too, man. Look, we’re going to bring you here. You’re going to be a huge weapon for us. All right,” Glenn said.
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Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq was selected by the New York Jets with the No. 16 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
“Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I thought it was going to be a prank for a second,” Sadiq said.
Glenn laughed and assured Sadiq that he was indeed going to join the Jets.
“No, we’re not kidding you, bro. No, you’ll be a jet. You’ll be a jet. Trust me on this, man. You’ve been a target for us for a while,” Glenn said.
Sadiq played at Oregon last season, as in 14 games he caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. His eight touchdowns led all FBS tight ends and he was named a second-team All-American.
The Idaho native impressed at the NFL Combine in February when he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash. The impressive number was not only the best among all tight ends this year, but also the fastest a tight end has made in the last 14 NFL combines.
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Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq speaks to the press during Oregon’s NFL Pro Day in Eugene, Oregon on March 17, 2026. (Amanda Loman/AP Photo)
Sadiq was the first of two weapons the Jets added Thursday for new quarterback Geno Smith. They came back in the first round to select Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the No. 30 overall pick.
Cooper was one of Fernando Mendoza’s top receivers on Indiana’s national championship-winning team last season. In 16 games, he caught 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Sadiq and Cooper will join receiver Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall as Smith’s primary weapons heading into next season.
