Kenyon Sadiq runs fastest 40 by a tight end since 2003 and confirms Broncos meeting
Oregon tight end kenyon sadiq ran a 4. 39 40-yard dash on Friday in Indianapolis, the fastest 40 by a tight end at the NFL Scouting Combine since at least 2003, and he confirmed a formal interview with the Denver Broncos at the event.
Kenyon Sadiq's numbers at the Combine
Sadiq posted a blazing 4. 39-second 40-yard dash on Friday, besting the previous mark of 4. 40 set by Vernon Davis in 2006 and tied by Dorin Dickerson in 2010. He measured 6-foot-3 1/8 and 241 pounds, started the night with a broad jump of 11-1 and recorded a 43 1/2-inch vertical leap. His workout drew immediate attention: he is listed as No. 16 overall by analyst Daniel Jeremiah and entered the combine widely viewed as the top tight end in the class and a likely first-round pick.
How Sadiq stacked up against Eli Stowers
Sadiq’s 4. 39 outpaced Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, who posted an official 4. 51. Stowers topped Sadiq’s broad jump minutes after Sadiq jumped 11-1 with an 11-3 leap, and Stowers also posted a 45 1/2-inch vertical — the best mark by a tight end since at least 2003. Sadiq’s 11-1 broad was the highest mark among tight ends at the 2026 combine until Stowers’ 11-3; another account noted the 11-1 broad as one of the best historical marks by a tight end since 2003.
College production and accolades
Sadiq turned in his finest college season in 2025, catching 51 passes for 560 yards (an 11. 0-yard average) and eight touchdown catches, which led all FBS tight ends. He was a second-team All-American and the Big Ten Conference Tight End of the Year, and he lost out on the John Mackey Award to Eli Stowers. Observers at the combine noted that Sadiq’s tremendous workout numbers are unlikely to slow the pre-draft hype surrounding him.
Broncos meeting and the Bo Nix connection
Sadiq confirmed a formal interview with the Denver Broncos at the combine and called the meeting "good. " He said it would be "awesome" to reunite with Bo Nix in the NFL: "It would be awesome, just kind of already knowing how he thinks and stuff, " Sadiq said. He added of Nix, "Just being around him, he's a great guy. He makes everyone better around him. " Sadiq noted that as a freshman in 2023 he watched Nix "showing me the ropes in college. One of the most experienced quarterbacks to do it in college ever, " and that he learned from watching Nix's demeanor, movements and command of the offense.
Friday’s busy slate in Indianapolis and other standouts
Friday marked a busy day in Indianapolis: defensive backs and tight ends took the field for on-field activities and the podium hosted wide receiver, running back and quarterback prospects. The group highlighted names such as Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers, Clemson’s Avieon Terrell and Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love ran the second-best 40 time among running backs on Saturday, and Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles drew attention on Thursday for historic speed and leaping ability. Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. had his arm length measured at 30 and 7/8 inches on Thursday and said clubs did not appear overly focused on that measurement.
Media day notes, top quarterbacks and a receiver's stat line
The combine’s media sessions included top quarterbacks such as Fernando Mendoza and Ty Simpson, and one of the top wide receiver prospects, Jordyn Tyson, addressed his preparation. Tyson's college totals were listed as 158 receptions for 2, 282 yards and 222 touchdowns over four seasons at Arizona State and Colorado; he told media he planned "just a little small, small step" of improvement, working on "new ways to get open" and refining his regimen to endure a full season.
Observers on site also noted a stock-report review of the workouts from Indianapolis and posed questions about other prospects — how high some quarterbacks jumped and how other players reacted to blazing 40s — as teams continued to sort prospects over the week.
The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine continued at 3 p. m. ET with more on-field work and interviews scheduled for prospects around Indianapolis.
