In the NFL, much of a player's success depends on who is around him, and for rookies in particular, a career's trajectory can be set on a good or bad path, depending on where they land. We see it happen every year with quarterbacks, and the same is true for many skill-position players.
So for Oregon Duck fans who wish to see the best for former tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the latest mock draft from USA TODAY is certainly one to pay attention to. According to this latest mock, Sadiq is set to land with the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 14 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, pairing him with former NFL MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
This would be one of the most desirable landing spots for Sadiq, giving him a dynamic passer to work with and an electric offense to operate in with a new coaching staff.
"Much of the talk surrounding new coach Jesse Minter's arrival has centered on what changes might be in store for the defense," USA TODAY's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz writes. "But the schematic shift from Todd Monken to Declan Doyle on offense might not be the smoothest. Sadiq could help create mismatches while allowing the attack to continue living out of two-tight-end sets."
Sadiq isn't the only Oregon player to land in the first round of the draft, according to this mock. A few picks later, safety Dillon Thieneman lands with the Minnesota Vikings at No. 18, a very common mock draft spot for him this year.
"Since his star turn at the combine, Thieneman has been linked heavily to a Minnesota team that could be headed for a changing of the guard at safety. If he's available here, it's difficult to envision the Vikings passing on a versatile asset in coverage, given all the different looks he could facilitate for Brian Flores."
At this point, it seems highly likely that Oregon has a pair of players taken in the first round of the draft, with more to come on Day 2.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks TE Kenyon Sadiq lands with MVP QB in latest mock draft
