New Mock Draft Sends Explosive Pass Catcher to the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings pick 18th on draft night — less than 14 weeks away — and if they play their cards right, the franchise might end up with this class’ best tight end, Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq.
Sadiq’s appeal is obvious: explosive after the catch, young enough to develop, and capable of growing into the Vikings’ main TE1.
That’s the word this week from The Athletic, which mock-drafted Sadiq to Minnesota in its latest prediction about how the Round 1 board will fall in Pittsburgh.
Kenyon Sadiq Makes Sense as a Vikings Draft Pivot
Sadiq to the Vikings would assuredly ignite the fan base.
The Athletic: Sadiq to Minnesota
In Dane Brugler’s estimation, the Oregon playmaker could slide all the way to No. 18.
He selected Sadiq for the Vikings this week, noting, “If T.J. Hockenson is a cap casualty this offseason, tight end would move up the Vikings’ needs list. Sadiq is a big, freaky athlete with the adjustment skills to make difficult catches look routine and the mentality to be an asset as a blocker. NFL teams believe he has the talent to be a top-10 pick.”
Before Minnesota’s pick, the Detroit Lions selected offensive tackle Caleb Lomu of Utah, and the Carolina Panthers nabbed defensive tackle Peter Woods at No. 19.
The College Production
Sadiq is 6’3″ and 245 pounds, and he’s still just 20 years old. The man has extreme youth on his side. He played 42 games at Oregon, notching 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns. Sadiq is so athletic that he returned a couple of kicks for the Ducks in 2023 and 2024, believe it or not.
He’ll be a Round 1 commodity for one clear reason: he’s not a one-trick pony. Sadiq can catch the ball at volume while blocking for ball-carriers and quarterbacks. That’s somewhat rare for a young tight end.
Bleacher Report‘s Daniel Harms recently compared Sadiq to George Kittle as a comp and wrote, “Kenyon Sadiq is one of the most physical and impactful blockers in the entire class. Add in his explosive ability down the field and after the catch to maximize any passing attack, and he’s the TE1 in this class.”
“Sadiq is a former 4-star recruit, and his athletic ability as a multi-sport standout has transitioned to the football field, showcasing his incredible potential as a pass catcher. He’s been working behind the scenes at Oregon and took over as the No. 1 tight end for the Ducks after the Los Angeles Rams selected Terrance Ferguson during the 2024 draft. Pay attention as he showcases why he’s the best tight end in the country.”
What about T.J. Hockenson?
Minnesota extended T.J. Hockenson in the summer of 2023 with an escape hatch clearly baked in. By design, the 2026 offseason sat as the financial pivot point, and that moment has arrived. Hockenson could realistically be released this offseason.
Hockenson’s 2025 production — 51 catches, 438 yards, three touchdowns — unfortunately fell well short of his typical baseline. Quarterback instability played a huge role, with J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer cycling through uneven stretches that dragged down the entire passing offense — and team.
His usage told a deeper story. Injuries along the offensive line forced the Vikings into protection-first football, and Hockenson became collateral as a blocker. Kevin O’Connell acknowledged midseason that his role had shifted, leaning heavily toward pass protection and run blocking.
Christian Darrisaw returned early in 2025 from his ACL tear, but his recovery never really took hold. To make up for it, O’Connell routinely deployed Hockenson as a sixth lineman, which Hockenson could handle, but that also subtracted from his pass-catching availability.
Hockenson is the NFL’s fourth-most expensive tight end, and most of the time, men earning his salary aren’t solely blocking commodities.
A VikingsTerritory Endorsement from Ted Schwerzler
Our Ted Schwerzler endorsed Sadiq to the Vikings two weeks ago: “Sadiq should be considered as a fringe top-10 pick, so the Vikings would need to move up or have something fall into their laps. Adding a tight end could compensate for losing the likes of number three wide receiver Jalen Nailor if he finds the bag elsewhere. In that scenario, Tai Felton may be elevated to replace Nailor.”
“If Minnesota wants to get even more aggressive, it could consider trading Jordan Addison while keeping Nailor around. Addison will generate a significant haul, and moving him would represent cost savings by avoiding the need to pay him alongside Jefferson. Nailor would cost significantly less, even on a new deal, and he may have positioned himself as a reliable option for O’Connell’s offense.”
Sadiq sits at No. 17 right now on the Consensus Big Board of 2026, prime territory for Minnesota to seize the moment if a tight end is the foremost draft need.
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