Why Chiefs Cannot Draft Kenyon Sadiq at No. 9

We are officially in April, which means that the 2026 NFL Draft is later this month. The Kansas City Chiefs, for the first time since ironically selecting Patrick Mahomes in 2017 with the 10th-overall pick, will be drafting inside the top 10.

While Kansas City can go multiple routes with the No. 9 pick, it cannot, no matter the circumstances, draft Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The 6-foot-3, 241-pound tight end is a good prospect, but there are several reasons why the Chiefs should forgo that possibility.

Kansas City has More Dire Needs

Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) makes a catch during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Travis Kelce is returning for his 14th season in the NFL, and the Chiefs need a contingency plan at that position. However, that succession strategy cannot take place with the No. 9 pick.

Kansas City, which has two first-round picks after trading cornerback Trent McDuffie earlier this offseason, has flexibility in how it operates on the opening night of the draft, but the ninth pick has to be invested in a pass rusher, wide receiver, or cornerback.

Nov 29, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs defensive end George Karlaftis (56) celebrates with defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) after a sack during the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images | Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Setting themselves up for life after Kelce will most likely occur at some point during this upcoming draft, but that needs to occur on Day 2 or 3 of the event.

Sadiq Not Worth Top-10 Pick

Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq carries the ball under cover from Washington cornerback Ephesians Prysock as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. | Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

For a player who has generated as much hype as Sadiq has through the pre-draft process, his production profile does not warrant being discussed as a premium prospect. The Ducks have been a prolific offensive program for years, and in three seasons, Sadiq never surpassed 60 receptions or 600 yards. In 2025, the junior tight end recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns, which were all career-highs.

Sadiq blew the scouting combine away, with a 4.39 40-yard dash, 1.54 10-yard split, a 43.5" vertical jump, and an 11'1" broad jump. Unfortunately, those drills do not guarantee on-field production. Additionally, Sadiq is not going to operate as an all-around tight end who can consistently contribute as a run blocker.

Jan 9, 2026; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq (18) runs against Indiana Hoosiers linebacker Isaiah Jones (46)during the first quarter of the 2025 Peach Bowl and semifinal game of the College Football Playoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Imagesf | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Over the last few years, we have seen tight ends who are exclusively receiving tight ends be selected in the first round, and for the most part, they have underwhelmed. Kyle Pitts and Dalton Kincaid are two examples of this argument, and based on what the Atlanta Falcons and Buffalo Bills invested, it is safe to say that both organizations have been disappointed with the return they have garnered with those selections.

And those are two players who produced in college. Sadiq has compiled 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns through 42 games in three years. The Chiefs have been bitten by overvaluing physical traits before, and those instances should serve as learning experiences for how the front office should evaluate Sadiq.