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How will Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq fit into the Jets’ offense in 2026 and beyond?
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- How will Omar Cooper Jr. and Kenyon Sadiq fit into the Jets’ offense in 2026 and beyond?
The Jets added some serious playmaking capabilities to their passing game in the first round of the 2026 draft, selecting Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq with the 16th overall pick and then trading up to nab Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. with the 30th pick.
Let's consider how these two rookies could make an impact in new offensive coordinator Frank Reich's offense in 2026 and beyond...
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Despite their first-round status, Cooper and Sadiq won't be handed starting roles and will need to compete to earn playing time. The good news on that front is that each player seems to have a good attitude and work ethic, with both delivering on their willingness to learn with tangible improvements last season.
However, while the Jets have a reputation as a team that lacks offensive weapons, they have other options at wide receiver such as Garrett Wilson , AD Mitchell , and reigning team MVP Isaiah Williams , and also at tight end where Mason Taylor is coming off a solid rookie season and Jeremy Ruckert just earned himself an extension with his best season.
The Jets have a history of highly-drafted receivers not living up to their potential, but even their good picks often struggled to make an impact as a rookie, although Wilson broke this trend when he racked up over 1,100 receiving yards in 2022.
Ironically, at tight end, the Jets had a few players in their recent history in Chris Herndon and Jace Amaro who actually had solid production as rookies but then failed to deliver on that promise and didn't last long with the team. Taylor will be hoping his career doesn't follow that pattern.
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Assuming they do have a role, Cooper and Sadiq provide the Jets with pass-catching options underneath and over the middle, as well as the ability to generate good yardage after the catch. Each of them spent plenty of time in the slot last year, but not as much in previous seasons, so there isn't likely to be much of an overlap between their roles.
Cooper showed plenty of playmaking ability in his first three seasons, but had just 46 catches. The Hoosiers smartly opted to use Cooper inside in 2025 with the emergence of Elijah Sarratt and Charlie Becker on the boundary, to good effect.
The biggest adjustment in 2025, in addition to using Cooper primarily in the slot, was to resolve to get him the ball more on screens. This led to him racking up 69 catches and dramatically improving his catch rate as he fell just 63 yards short of a 1,000-yard season.
Oct 11, 2025; Eugene, Oregon, USA; Indiana Hoosiers wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (3) makes a one-handed catch for a first down against Oregon Ducks defensive back Jadon Canady (22) during the second quarter at Autzen Stadium. / Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images
Cooper was still a big play threat, posting at least one catch of 35 yards or longer in seven of 16 games, although his yards per catch average dropped off from a Big 10-leading 21.2 the previous season. A much higher percentage of his total yardage (53 percent, up from 30 in his first two seasons) came after the catch, with plenty of highlights that saw him breaking tackles or dragging defenders for extra yardage.
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Sadiq made a similar jump in his 2025 season, which he entered with just 29 career catches. However, just eight of those passes were caught past the line of scrimmage. In 2025 he stepped up after Terrance Ferguson was drafted in the second round by the Rams and ended up with 51 receptions.
While Sadiq didn't really establish himself as a big-play threat, as he didn't have a 40-yard catch in his entire college career, he succeeded on a variety of different routes in the 2025 season and showed an ability to stretch the field running down the seam. Like Cooper, he also generated good yardage after the catch, displaying a penchant for hurdling defensive players in the open field before later showcasing his explosiveness with a 43.5-inch vertical at the Combine.
So, while Cooper had already displayed good downfield abilities, the 2025 season showed how productive he can be if you make a concerted effort to get the ball in his hands. Sadiq, on the other hand, had already shown that he can rack up production with dump-off passes, but finally started to turn his athletic gifts into an ability to make plays down the field in 2025.
The later rounds of the draft signified that NFL offenses could be shifting towards more multiple-tight end formations. That bodes well for Reich, who used these when he was the head coach in Indianapolis , especially in the red zone. He would typically employ Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle together, and Ebron scored 14 touchdowns in Reich's first year in 2018.
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Part of the plan could therefore be to use Taylor and Sadiq in a similar fashion, but they could even go a step further and employ Ruckert as well in three tight end sets. The ability of Taylor and Sadiq to move out into the slot could mean the Jets are equipped to go with heavy run packages, but would be able to align differently to create mismatches if opposing defenses counter with bigger run-stuffing lineups.
Cooper can contribute out of the slot in more conventional offensive packages with 11 personnel, but his earlier seasons should make the Jets confident he can develop into a mainstay along with Wilson on the outside. T.Y. Hilton is a good example of a talented player who had success with Reich while playing both inside and outside – something Wilson is also adept at.
Neither Sadiq or Cooper is the finished product in terms of their route-running, but they both have outstanding potential, and Reich should have a good idea of how to use them both. Between them, they could completely transform the Jets' offense by introducing elements the team has been sorely lacking in recent years.
