While the majority of draft analysts and fans expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to continue to beef up what was a truly horrendous defense in this 2026 NFL Draft, there is a very real possibility the Buccaneers go with the best player available with the No. 15 overall pick, which has long been the preference of general manager Jason Licht.
When it comes to offensive pieces, the favored target for the Buccaneers is Oregon Ducks graduate Kenyon Sadiq. The consensus best tight end in a very underrated class, Sadiq is an athletic specimen and a monster in space with real YAC upside. Though the Buccaneers did re-sign Cade Otton against the expectations of many, the surprise departure of legend Mike Evans to the San Francisco 49ers opens up the possibility of another big bodied target for franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield.
Speaking at a press conference in the build up to the draft, Jason Licht did say that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers do need help on defense and even hinted as the possibility of an "X" profile at wide receiver to replace Evans. But he also dropped this interesting nugget on the tight end position, via the team's YouTube channel, ”It would be great to add a TE to the roster that brings an element that maybe some of the others don’t but we are happy with our group right now, just doing our due diligence.”
Kenyon Sadiq is a real option for the Buccaneers in 2026 NFL Draft
That sounds an awful lot like Licht is trying to use the second half of his statement to nudge away from the big hint in the first half. Although the Buccaneers did keep Otton around, they are wanting a tight end who brings something different to the table.
Now, Kenyon Sadiq is not the only guy who fits that bill, but in a dynamic offense with the ambitious Baker Mayfield running the show, who could be more unique and offer that sort of an "element" Licht is looking for to open things up even more than Sadiq?
The Buccaneers could really hit a home run by going after a guy like Sadiq who can turn simple routes and the pitch and catch game into huge gains. Cade Otton does not have that quality to him, and while Licht can cage the interest by using the term "due diligence", the fact that he is thinking about other profiles and pondering Sadiq means that the Oregon man is in play here.
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