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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 call.
The Jets drafted Sadiq with the 16th overall 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 with the New York Jets,” said Darren Mougey, the Jets’ general manager, 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 right here and make you a New York Jet,” Mougey replied.
“OK. I appreciate it,” Sadiq said, still seeming 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 about to come true when head coach Aaron Glenn called.
“Kenyon, how are you, mate?” Glenn asked.
“I feel good. I’m excited, coach,” Sadiq said.
“Good. We’re excited too man. Look, we’re bringing you up here. You’re going to be a huge weapon for us. Alright,” Glenn said.
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Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq was selected by the New York Jets with the No. 16 pick during 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 call for a second,” Sadiq said.
Glenn laughed and assured Sadiq that he was indeed going to the Jets.
“No, we’re not kidding you, bro. No, you’re going to be a Jet. You’re going to be a Jet. Trust me, man. You’ve been a target for us for a while,” Glenn said.
Sadiq starred for Oregon last season, catching 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns in 14 games. His eight touchdowns tied for 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 the fastest a tight end has run over the past 14 NFL combines.
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Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq speaks to the press at Oregon’s NFL Pro Day in Eugene, Ore., on March 17, 2026. (Amanda Loman/AP Photo)
Sadiq was the first of two weapons the Jets added to new quarterback Geno Smith on Thursday. They traded back into the first round to select Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the overall number 30.
Cooper was a top receiver for Fernando Mendoza 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 wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall as Smith’s top weapons heading into next season.
