The Tampa Bay Buccaneers approach the 2026 NFL Draft with most of their pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball.
But tight end is the main offensive position that the team needs to seriously upgrade. Cade Otton is a rock solid tight end, but there’s no viable receiving threat behind him.
The team re-signed Ko Kieft, who’s a great blocker and special teams contributor, but even his roster spot isn’t set in stone. Rounding out the depth chart are Payne Durham and Devin Culp, who combined for only two catches last season.
Kenyon Sadiq is the missing piece for Baker Mayfield and Buccaneers offense
It’s been years since the Buccaneers made a significant investment in the tight end position, and this year might be the perfect time to add a premier talent.
Kieft was a sixth-round draft pick in 2022. Durham was a fifth-round pick back in 2023 and Culp was a seventh-round pick back in 2024. Even the starter Otton was a fourth-round pick.
Licht used to be much more willing to invest premium capital in the tight end position. He drafted Austin Seferian-Jenkins in the second round of his first ever draft as Bucs general manager in 2014. He drafted OJ Howard in the first round of 2017. While those gambles didn’t pay off, it doesn’t mean they should never spend early draft capital on a tight end again.
“It would be great to add a tight end to the roster that brings an element that maybe some of the others don’t. We’re happy with our group right now, but we’re just doing our due diligence,” said Licht at his pre-draft press conference.
If he’s looking for a tight end to add a missing element, he needs to look no further than Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq.
Sadiq is a special prospect. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash ever for a tight end at 4.39 seconds. He’s 6-foot-3, 241 pounds and his combination of size and speed make him a mismatch waiting to happen. He can be lined up as a receiving tight end but can also be moved into the slot receiver role in certain packages.
He’s also a capable run blocker, and can give the offense an all-around boost when he’s on the field. Despite the team re-signing Otton, new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson deployed 2-tight end sets at one of the highest rates of any play caller last year.
If he wants to carry that over to Tampa Bay as expected, the Bucs will certainly need a better tight end option to pair with Otton than Kieft, Durham, or Culp.
Sadiq is the missing ingredient that can unlock another dimension to the Bucs’ offense. He and Otton complement each other perfectly and would form one of the best tight end duos in the league.
If the Bucs opt to draft Sadiq at No. 15 overall, it would elevate the entire offense. Baker Mayfield would be the happiest player in the NFL as he’d boast arguably the top arsenal of weapons the league has to offer, setting him up for an MVP-caliber season in 2026.
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