Story by
Kenyon Sadiq, Dillon Thieneman see bumps in top NFL prospect list
- Story by
- Kenyon Sadiq, Dillon Thieneman see bumps in top NFL prospect list
There were high expectations for guys like Kenyon Sadiq and Dillon Thieneman going into the 2026 NFL Combine last week, and after all was said and done, it turned out that the pair of former Oregon Ducks blew those expectations out of the water.
Both secured their first-round draft grades, and made waves on social media with some head-turning displays of athleticism on Friday afternoon. Dillon Thieneman turned in one of the best combine grades from a safety in combine history, and Sadiq broke the combine record for the fastest 40-yard dash time since 2003.
Advertisement
It's safe to say that the Ducks had a good week in Indianapolis .
Now, with the dust settled, we're seeing what these performances did as far as perception goes. One of the most valued voices in the NFL draft world, NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, has both Sadiq and Thieneman moving up his draft board as two of the top prospects in the entire class.
Going into the combine, Sadiq was listed as the No. 16 player in the class, and Jeremiah bumped him up to No. 13 after his performance.
"Sadiq is a short, muscled-up tight end with outstanding speed and athleticism," Jeremiah said. "At Oregon, he primarily aligned attached or in the slot, but he also saw some reps out wide and in the backfield. He is very explosive in his release and he's able to separate vertically on seam/wheel routes. He excels on quick screens, where he can display his dynamic run-after-catch skills. He needs to improve his dependability as a pass catcher. There were too many easy would-be catches that were dropped during the 2025 season. I love his competitiveness and tenacity as a blocker. He latches on, runs his feet and works to finish. Overall, Sadiq lacks height and consistent hands, but he is a versatile, explosive weapon with toughness."
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Thieneman was listed at No. 23 before his showing at the combine, and he moved up six spots to No. 17.
"Thieneman was a versatile chess piece in Oregon's defense. He lined up in the box, in the deep half and over the slot. When he's aligned in the back end, he can anticipate and range over the top to find and play the ball. He has excellent closing speed and takes good routes. He shows a fluid, smooth pedal when aligned in the slot. He's quick to plant/drive on throws in front of him and he's a reliable tackler most of the time. He will occasionally fail to break down and have a fly-by missed tackle. Against the run, he trusts his eyes and explodes into the alley. Overall, Thieneman does a lot of different tasks at a very high level. His skill set is highly coveted around the NFL."
There were no other Ducks listed among the top 50, per Jeremiah, but other Oregon players like Emmanuel Pregnon , Jadon Canady , and Malik Benson are hoping to get into that Round 2 or Round 3 conversation with a strong showing at Oregon's Pro Day on March 17.
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinion s.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Daniel Jeremiah moves Kenyon Sadiq, Dillon Thieneman on prospect list
