2026 NFL Combine: Kenyon Sadiq Runs Fastest 40 by Tight End Since at Least 2003

Kenyon Sadiq ran a 4. 39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, the fastest time recorded by a tight end at the event since at least 2003. That blazing result, combined with a collection of elite jump numbers, amplified a draft profile that entered the week among the most hyped at the position.

Kenyon Sadiq's Combine Numbers and College Resume

Sadiq measured 6-foot-3 1/8 and 241 pounds for the combine. He opened his workout evening with a broad jump of 11-1 and posted a vertical leap of 43 1/2 inches. Those displays followed a 2025 college season in which Sadiq recorded 51 receptions for 560 yards, an 11. 0-yard average, and eight touchdown catches — numbers that led all FBS tight ends. He was named second-team All-American and earned Big Ten Conference Tight End of the Year honors. Entering the combine he was widely viewed as the top tight end in the class and a likely first-round pick; an analyst listed him as the No. 16 overall prospect.

How Kenyon Sadiq Matched Up Against Eli Stowers

Sadiq was expected to be a standout during the workout portion of the event, and early returns proved that expectation correct. His 11-1 broad jump was the leading mark among tight ends until Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers produced an 11-3 a few minutes later. Sadiq's 43 1/2-inch vertical was also surpassed by Stowers, who jumped 45 1/2 inches — a vertical noted as the best mark by a tight end since at least 2003. In the 40-yard dash, Sadiq outpaced Stowers; Stowers logged an official time of 4. 51 seconds while Sadiq posted the 4. 39.

Historical Context: What the 4. 39 Means

Sadiq's 4. 39 bettered a prior tight end benchmark of 4. 40, a mark set in 2006 and later tied in 2010 by two different players. That historical jump in raw speed for a tight end at the combine tightened evaluators' focus on how athleticism is reshaping position profiles. The combination of top-end speed and explosive jumping ability is the salient takeaway for evaluators watching the workout gauntlet in Indianapolis.

Other Notable Combine Developments and Broader Takeaways

• Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles produced historic speed and leaping ability on Thursday, and his brother and Buckeyes teammate Lorenzo showed similar historic speed on Friday.
• Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers delivered an 11-3 broad jump and a 45 1/2-inch vertical, the latter noted as the best by a tight end since at least 2003.
• Questions about individual prospects were a running theme: whether Toriano Pride boosted his profile, whether Ty Simpson projects as a franchise quarterback, and how impressive David Bailey looked all featured in event discussion.
• Jermod McCoy skipped on-field drills in Indianapolis, a decision that drew attention.
• Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. had arms measured at 30 and 7/8 inches on Thursday; he said NFL clubs do not appear overly focused on that measurement.
• Position projections and fits were being debated, including which receivers might suit a particular NFL roster and which quarterback prospects are trending upward.
• Analysts in Indianapolis produced stock reports and takeaways throughout the second day of workouts, cataloguing which prospects rose or fell in draft standing.
• One analyst identified a group of 21 prospects expected to showcase speed in Indianapolis, including four receivers from the same school who were highlighted as a noteworthy cluster.
• Discussions at the event also questioned which position Ohio State's Arvell Reese sees himself playing at the next level; that detail is unclear in the provided context.

What Comes Next for Kenyon Sadiq and the Draft Picture

Sadiq's 4. 39 40 and overall workout will be folded into ongoing draft evaluations and stock reports that are already being assembled from Indianapolis. He entered the combine as a widely viewed top tight end and likely first-round pick; the new workout numbers are unlikely to cool that perception. Draft evaluators and teams will continue weighing Sadiq's college production, award recognition, and now demonstrable athletic traits as the pre-draft process moves toward pro days and team interviews. Further developments and formal evaluations will continue to appear as the scouting cycle progresses; details may evolve.