Would the Rams be crazy to take another Oregon TE with their top pick?

The Los Angeles Rams have been enamored by tight ends in recent years. They tried to trade up for Dalton Kincaid and Brock Bowers in consecutive years, followed by the selection of Terrance Ferguson in the second round last year after trading down with the Atlanta Falcons.

That’s not surprising considering Sean McVay’s background in coaching tight ends. Let’s not forget his first pick as a head coach was Gerald Everett in 2017.

Given the Rams’ infatuation with athletic, field-stretching tight ends, we can’t rule out them taking another this year. And at No. 13 overall, they may have the opportunity to draft one of the best tight end prospects to come out in the past few classes.

Ferguson’s former teammate at Oregon, Kenyon Sadiq, blew up the NFL combine with an all-time great performance. Among all tight ends, his 4.39 in the 40-yard dash was the best ever, his 43.5-inch vertical was the second-best and his 11-foot-1 broad jump was the third-best.

Kenyon Sadiq had one of the best days ever by a TE at the Combine:

40-Yard Dash: 4.39 (best ever by a TE)
Vertical Jump: 43.5’’ (second-best ever by a TE)
Broad Jump: 11’1’’ (third-best ever by a TE)@Accenture | @oregonfootballpic.twitter.com/fxvABmsGrd— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2026

It’s not hyperbole to say he’s one of the most athletic tight ends to enter the NFL. And it’s only part of what makes him a lock to be the first player drafted at the position, potentially going as early as the top 10.

If he falls to No. 13, the Rams have to be open-minded despite taking Ferguson a year ago. Sure, cornerback is a higher priority, as is wide receiver, but Los Angeles is in position to take the best player available – provided the front office adds someone at cornerback in free agency.

Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice and Charles McDonald have the Rams taking Sadiq 13th overall in their latest mock draft, which may seem crazy but it’s by no means out of the question.

After dipping their toes in the Oregon tight end waters last draft with Terrance Ferguson in the second round and supercharging their multi-tight end looks, the Rams take the plunge with Sadiq. Yes, the Rams could add to their defensive backfield here, among other positions, but Sadiq would further weaponize a Rams offense that asks its skill players to do a bit of everything around the formation. Sadiq would give Sean McVay another field stretcher and yards-after-catch option while still deploying heavy bodies, with some grit as a blocker as a nice bonus. Sadiq would not only help the Rams for 2026, but he also shores up the position long-term for the Rams as they have several pending tight end free agents in 2027.

Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen both have just one year left on their current contracts. Ferguson is signed through 2028, but with what we know about McVay’s desire to lean heavily on 13 personnel, the Rams need to have at least two capable pass-catching tight ends at their disposal.

Adding Sadiq would give them that, allowing McVay to mix and match personnel often. He had Everett and Higbee for his first four years and the combination of Sadiq and Ferguson could bring that dynamic back.

They’re both more than just your standard tight ends, too. They can each stretch the field vertically, and Ferguson showed he can line up outside or in the slot often last season. He’s not strictly an in-line tight end, sometimes operating as more of a wide receiver.

Here’s what McVay said about Ferguson’s versatility after the Rams’ season ended, raving about the young tight end’s versatility.

“I think he’s a total stud. I think the future’s incredibly bright,” McVay said. “I think what he did relative to all the moving parts – everybody just sees us in 13 or 12 or he's playing in some different situational things in 11, but he's got the ability to basically play every skill position on our offense. That's every receiver spot, that's every tight end spot. That's a real credit to his overall maturity, his intelligence, his football instincts and makeup. I think he played with great toughness and I think the best is yet to come, where he's got an incredibly high ceiling, particularly as a receiver, where he can be able to make plays short, intermediate, down the field. He can win from different locations, whether that's attached, whether that's in the slot or out wide. And I think we can maximize on all of those things. But I thought he played a bunch of snaps and I think that production will naturally come. But I'm really, really excited about him.”

As impressive an athlete as Ferguson is – he was the most athletic tight end in the 2025 draft class – Sadiq is even more explosive. And he can run a wider range of routes than Ferguson, who mostly ran fades, seams, corners and posts with the Rams.

Adding Sadiq to Los Angeles’ offense would be equally impactful as drafting a top receiver. Just because he’s listed as a tight end doesn’t mean he should be pigeonholed to that role. He’s simply a playmaker with a rare combination of size and speed.

This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: NFL draft: Should LA Rams take Kenyon Sadiq in 1st round?