It's certainly no secret that the Los Angeles Chargers haven't done much in the way of bringing in external help over these first three weeks of free agency.
After signing center Tyler Biadasz to replace the retired Bradley Bozeman a few days before the legal tampering period began (he'd already been released by the Commanders), the Bolts have since signed only fullback Alec Ingold, blocking tight end Charlie Kolar, running back/kick returner Keaton Mitchell, offensive linemen Cole Strange, and defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson, and offensive guard Kayode Awosika.
They also brought back several of their own players, of course, but they also lost plenty of talent, including the likes of Odafe Oweh, Zion Johnson, Benjamin St-Juste, and Otito Ogbonnia.
So, given the way everything has played out, what with the Chargers not spending nearly as much money as some expected them to, the 2026 NFL Draft has become a lot more important. And the fact that Los Angeles only has five total picks certainly doesn't help matters. As such, Joe Hortiz and Jim Harbaugh have to crush every single selection, especially the first one at No. 22 overall, which most believe will be used on an offensive or defensive lineman.
The team's official website, however, recently discussed a far different scenario, one in which the Chargers use that opening-round selection to draft tight end, specifically Oregon's Kenyon Sadiq.
Chargers' website floats the scenario of Los Angeles drafting tight end Kenyon Sadiq
Editorial Director Eric Smith of Chargers.com recently responded to a question in a mailbag piece about whether the team would consider Sadiq or a defender in the opening round, and he certainly took some time to discuss the possibility of taking a tight end. Well, he actually quoted draft analyst Trevor Sikkema for a good chunk of it, but you get the idea.
Will the Chargers take [Penn State guard Olaivavega] Ioane with the No. 22 pick if he's there? Perhaps. But I think we've all learned over the years to never speak in certainties when it comes to the draft.
Sadiq is a fascinating prospect, too. Draft analyst Trevor Sikkema recently called the former Oregon standout "an athletic specimen" after he blazed to a 40 time of 4.39 seconds at the Combine, a mark that set an all-time record for tight end.
"He's a ball of clay for any offensive coordinator to work with. I think he's a good blocker and not a great blocker, but pound-for-pound he is very strong," Sikkema told Chargers.com. "His athleticism, you see that from him all the time with his tape. He wasn't utilized as much as I thought he was going to be as Oregon but there is still plenty of reason to believe he's going to be a much more leaned on receiver at the NFL level.
"The thing I like the most about him is that normally when you talk about these highly athletic receiving tight ends, you're talking about guys who are really liabilities on the line of scrimmage as a blocker," Sikkema added. "And I do not think Kenyon Sadiq is a liability. He is George Kittle? No, but he can hold his own.
Look, Sadiq is undoubtedly an intriguing prospect. The 4.39 40 is just absurd for a guy that stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 241 pounds. And it's extremely difficult not to see the entertainment value in a guy that big and that fast who averaged 11.0 yards per reception and caught eight touchdowns in an offense run by Mike McDaniel with Justin Herbert throwing the football.
It's an outside-the-box kind of a pick, for sure, and many would likely get on board with it. But the Chargers obviously have bigger needs to address, for one, and then there's the obvious matter of Oronde Gadsden II, who had a solid rookie campaign this past year with 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns.
McDaniel does like two tight end sets, but those 12-personnel calls are typically reserved for the run game, which is why the Chargers spent so much money to bring in blocking tight end Charlie Kolar.
The Sadiq idea is fun, but it's not likely to happen.