When the New York Jets called Kenyon Sadiq with the No. 16 pick in Thursday's NFL Draft, the former Oregon tight end did not immediately celebrate. He wondered if someone was messing with him.
"I was thinking it was going to be a prank call for a second," Sadiq told Jets head coach Aaron Glenn moments after GM Darren Mougey delivered the news. Glenn laughed and told him, "We're not pranking you, brother. You're going to be a Jet. You're going to be a Jet. Trust me on that."
The hesitation was understandable. Last year's draft produced one of the more infamous moments in recent memory when Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, was connected to a prank call targeting quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Someone impersonated New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis and told Sanders he was being selected 40th overall. The stunt drew fines for the Falcons and Jeff Ulbrich, and Sanders continued sliding until the Cleveland Browns took him in the fifth round.
Sadiq's call, by contrast, was very real. The Jets held three first-round picks on Day 1, and Mougey used the second of them on the 6-foot-3, 241-pound tight end who caught 51 passes for 560 yards and 8 touchdowns last season for an Oregon squad that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. At the NFL combine, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds, a remarkable time for a player his size, and drew consistent praise for his route-running.
Glenn confirmed the team had been targeting Sadiq for some time. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich's reaction after the pick reinforced that. The Jets selected Sadiq as what many evaluators considered the clear top tight end available in the 2026 class.
The draft, held in Pittsburgh, also produced a pair of other memorable moments from Round 1. Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers sparked conversation before the picks began by suggesting that drafting a receiver ahead of him could signal the team's intention to eventually move on from him. "You're gonna pay him more than me and I'm your No. 1 WR," Nabers said. "When he's in Year 3 and I need a contract, you gonna just trade Malik." The Giants ultimately took linebacker Arvell Reese at No. 5 and offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa at No. 10. Nabers quickly walked back the comments on social media, insisting he was never upset.
The Rams generated their own intrigue when they selected Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson at No. 13, a notable move for a franchise with the reigning NFL MVP already on its roster. Head coach Sean McVay's visible reaction on camera drew immediate attention from fans and analysts, though CBS Sports noted the awkward optics while stopping short of drawing firm conclusions.
Rounds 2 and 3 are scheduled for Friday, with Rounds 4 through 7 on Saturday.
