The expectation is that when the Washington Commanders make their selection with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, it will likely be a defensive player.
Safety Caleb Downs, together with edge rushers Rueben Bain Jr. and David Bailey, have been linked as ideal targets for Washington, given the team's glaring needs at their positions. But it's not a sure thing that they'll be at the top of general manager Adam Peters' list, or that they'll even be available.
The Commanders could also use some help on the offensive end, particularly with wide receiver depth and at tight end. One prospect could turn out to be an intriguing candidate.
Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq has a ringing endorsement as a name for the Commanders to watch
Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq is projected to be a first-round pick with exceptional upside. Team alums Fred Smoot and Logan Paulsen both spoke exceptionally highly of the athletic tight end, who comes into the NFL with Day 1 starter potential.
Smoot in particular had no shortage of praise for the 20-year-old Idaho native.
"I don't know if you've watched him. He's No. 15, and he looks like a statue in Rome. He is poetry in motion. I'm gonna tell you who I think he is. He is a clone of [Brock] Bowers ... He's built like Evan Engram, but Engram was never a voluntary blocker like this dude is."Fred Smoot via Commanders.com
Sadiq has not been protected as a top-10 pick in most mocks, with three of CBS Sports' panel of four experts currently projecting him in the 20s. But there are always late risers, and the Oregon product has the measurables to fit the bill as a player who could climb draft boards with an impressive showing at the NFL Scouting Combine.
The pass-catching tight end has been described as a freakish athlete with impressive quickness and route-running ability. Sadiq is also considered productive in the blocking game, and at only 20, he still has plenty of room to grow.
If Washington ends up picking Sadiq, it would be the second year in a row that the Commanders have taken a player from Oregon in the first round. Last year, it was Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall, and the promising offensive tackle brushed off a rocky start to show considerable improvement throughout his rookie season.
It's unlikely that Washington would use a top-10 pick on a tight end, especially when more immediate solutions such as Kyle Pitts Sr. and Isaiah Likely should be up for grabs in free agency. But Sadiq may be worth considering.