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The New York Jets are no strangers to highly drafted players failing to live up to expectations.
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The Jets have found their fair share of draft gems over the years; however, they also missed on several high draft selections. The Jets are hoping that’s not the case with their 2026 draft class.
This year, the Jets used first-round picks on defensive lineman David Bailey out of Texas Tech, wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., and tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Sadiq, however, is already facing some questions about whether he’ll make an immediate impact.
Sadiq enters the season with doubters around him
Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton believes that Sadiq could be one of the biggest disappointments in the 2026 NFL class.
“The New York Jets made a somewhat puzzling selection with their second pick in the first round. They took Kenyon Sadiq, who plays a position that’s typically tough for rookies transitioning to the pros. Brock Bowers is an anomaly,” Moton wrote. “All-Pro Trey McBride only caught 29 passes for 265 yards and a touchdown in his first season.”
Moton noted that Sadiq’s has a crowded path to playing time.
“In addition to Sadiq’s adjustment to the pro game, he’ll split time with second-year tight end Mason Taylor, who recorded a team-leading 44 catches for 369 yards and a touchdown last season,” Moton wrote. “Sadiq may emerge as a primary target in two or so years. Still, he could be behind Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, fellow rookie Omar Cooper Jr. and Taylor in the Jets’ pass-catching pecking order for the 2026 campaign. Also, keep in mind that Sadiq underwent hernia repair surgery and didn’t practice in the spring.”
Could Kenyon Sadiq be a bust?
Though Moton raises some valid concerns, it’s far too early to label Sadiq a bust.
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Sadiq enters his rookie season with some lofty expectations after the Jets selected him with the No. 16 overall pick.
He came on strong during his final season at Oregon, recording 560 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on 51 receptions.
Entering training camp, he will also aim to return to full strength after a hernia injury that sidelined him during OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He is expected to be fully cleared ahead of training camp in late July.
Fortunately for the Oregon product, the Jets have made several changes to retool the offense this offseason, most notably bringing in Frank Reich as offensive coordinator.
Reich will be tasked with developing the team’s young offensive talent, including Sadiq, while implementing a new offense after the Jets struggled offensively last season.
The Jets have invested heavily at the tight end position, taking Mason Taylor in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft and adding Sadiq in the first round. Both will look to establish themselves as key contributors to the New York offense.
It remains to be seen whether Sadiq will live up to his first-round expectations or validate Bleacher Report’s concerns, but he will have every opportunity to prove himself.
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This story was originally published July 12, 2026 at 2:32 PM.