NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
New York Jets rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq thought one of the most important calls of his life was a prank call.
The Jets selected 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 from the New York Jets,” Jets general manager Darren Mougey said as he initiated the phone call.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq warms up before the College Football Playoff semifinal between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Oregon Ducks at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, on Jan. 9, 2026. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I’m fine. How are you?” Sadiq replied.
“You’re doing well. We’ll pick you right here and make you a New York Jet,” Mougey replied.
“It’s okay. I appreciate it,” Sadiq said, still looking a little apprehensive that he was actually talking to Mougey and not a prankster.
The former Oregon star seemed to realize his NFL Draft dreams were becoming a reality when head coach Aaron Glenn spoke on the phone.
“Kenyon, how are you, buddy?” -Glenn asked.
“I’m good. I’m excited, coach,” Sadiq said.
“Good. We’re excited too, man. Listen, we’re bringing you here. You’re going to be a huge weapon for us. All right,” Glenn said.
ZERO BS. ONLY DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!
Oregon Ducks tight end Kenyon Sadiq was selected by the New York Jets with the 16th pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 23, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
“Yes. Yes. Yes. I was thinking it was going to be a joke for a second,” Sadiq said.
Glenn laughed and assured Sadiq that he was, in fact, going to the Jets.
“No, we’re not kidding you, brother. No, you’re going to be a jet. You’re going to be a Jet. Trust me, man. You’ve been a target of ours for a while,” Glenn said.
Sadiq shined 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 run in the last 14 NFL combines.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq speaks to the media at Oregon’s NFL Pro Day in Eugene, Oregon, on March 17, 2026. (Amanda Lomán/AP Photo)
Sadiq was the first of two weapons the Jets added to new quarterback Geno Smith on Thursday. They went back to the first round to select Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the 30th 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 wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall as Smith’s top weapons heading into next season.
