Baker Mayfield will win MVP if wild Buccaneers draft prediction comes true

The 2026 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and there remains no true consensus on who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will draft with the 15th overall pick. 

Of course, the expectation is that they’ll go defense with pressing needs at edge rusher and inside linebacker. A growing number of mock drafts have them straying from that and instead selecting a cornerback, while others go even more outside the box and have Jason Licht drafting an offensive player in the first round. 

Add Pro Football Focus to that list, as NFL analyst Daire Carragher is predicting that the Buccaneers will select Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq to the fold with their first-round draft pick. 

Buccaneers drafting Kenyon Sadiq is dream scenario for Baker Mayfield 

While the defensive side of the ball is the clear weak link for this Bucs team, the best player available when they’re on the clock could very well be an offensive player.

If they do go that route, the two most popular choices have been Sadiq as well as Penn State guard Vega Ioane.  

“Regardless of the Buccaneers re-signing Cade Otton this offseason, this selection feels like a natural fit given the departure of franchise stalwart Mike Evans. Sadiq can effectively operate as a wide receiver thanks to his combination of size, speed and explosiveness,” wrote Carragher. 

Carragher’s logic makes sense, and while drafting a tight end after re-signing Cade Otton might feel redundant, it makes more sense than you think. 

Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinson ran 12 personnel, a two tight end formation, at the third-highest rate of any play caller in 2025. The system often calls for multiple tight ends on the field, and the Bucs currently lack a viable receiving option to complement Otton. 

Ko Kieft was re-signed this offseason, but he’s a blocking specialist. Payne Durham and Devin Culp round out the depth chart, but the pair combined for only two catches last season. 

Sadiq is a generational athlete that is outright dangerous if utilized properly. At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, Sadiq ran the fastest 40-yard dash ever by a tight end at 4.39 seconds. He also recorded a 43.5-inch vertical jump (99th percentile) and a 133-inch broad jump (98th percentile). 

He recorded 80 receptions for 892 yards and 11 touchdowns during his college career. In addition to his ability as a receiver, he’s also a capable, willing blocker. Simply put, Sadiq offers the total package and presents a sky-high ceiling at the next level.

The Bucs love their former Oregon Ducks, having drafted both Bucky Irving and Tez Johnson in the last two drafts. Sadiq could be the next to join that pipeline, and make life easier for Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense.