The college football season gets underway this weekend, but NFL Draft experts have already done their preliminary look at the prospects for next year's draft.
And for Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq, the buzz couldn't get much louder.
In Marcus Mosher's consensus early draft board, Sadiq is the highest-rated tight end (and Duck) on the list, rated the nation's No. 21 overall prospect:
It's the first version of the 2026 EXPERT Consensus Big Board! pic.twitter.com/1HzeOyioOf
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) August 21, 2025
NFL analyst Nate Tice, the son of former NFL coach Mike Tice, is also a draft expert who ranks players throughout the year.
"My preseason top 30 will be coming out soon and all I can say is that I am irrationally excited about Kenyon Sadiq this season," Tice wrote. "What a player."
Needless to say, he's pretty excited about what he sees in Sadiq.
Last season, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound pass-catcher hauled in 24 receptions for 308 yards and two touchdowns working behind Terrance Ferguson and, at times, Patrick Herbert.
This year, Sadiq is not only considered TE1, he may be Oregon's most targeted pass-catcher.
To predict Sadiq will double last year's numbers feels light.
A stat-line like 65 receptions, 750 yards and 8 touchdowns (or better) is within reach.
Several other Oregon players have at least drawn some buzz about being an NFL first-round pick next season, including safety Dillon Thieneman, left tackle Isaiah World and edge-rusher Matayo Uiagalelei.
But the leader in the clubhouse, at least early on, is Sadiq.