RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. The New York Jets walked away as one of the biggest winners of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Not only did they land Texas Tech star edge rusher David Bailey at No. 2 overall, but they also left the first round with Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and Oregon star tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The Jets added cornerback D'Angelo Ponds and quarterback Cade Klubnik in later rounds too, but that haul of first-round talent provides multiple Day 1 difference-makers for a franchise that desperately needs to turn things around.
Sadiq, in particular, was one of the most exciting picks. He was the top-rated tight end prospect in the draft and drew comparisons to Arizona Cardinals All-Pro Trey McBride after running a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Last season at Oregon, Sadiq hauled in 560 yards and eight touchdowns on 51 receptions, averaging 11.0 yards per catch. He earned second-team All-American honors and was expected to step in immediately as a rookie to give quarterback Geno Smith another reliable pass catcher.
However, just over a week into Jets training camp, their first-round tight end is dealing with another setback. Sadiq underwent hernia surgery in May but took part in New York's first three practices as part of what head coach Aaron Glenn called a "maintenance program." After taking a scheduled rest day on Monday, though, he missed practice on Tuesday after suffering a "little setback," according to Glenn . The Jets coach said no timetable has been set and he doesn't know how long Sadiq will be out, but that he's confident the rookie will be ready for Week 1.
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The Jets enter the 2026 season with an exciting group of pass catchers. In addition to Garrett Wilson, they've now got former second-rounder Adonai Mitchell, veteran Tim Patrick, rookie Cooper, and second-year tight end Mason Taylor, whom the Jets took in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Still, aside from Wilson, Sadiq may present the highest upside of the bunch. A versatile 6-foot-3, 240-pound tight end with elite speed and athleticism, he's the kind of player you can build an offense around.
It's encouraging that Glenn remains optimistic Sadiq will be good to go for Week 1, but there's no guarantee, given he's now suffered another injury setback before preseason has even kicked off.
The Jets' first preseason game is Friday, Aug. 14, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium, and their regular-season opener is against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Nissan Stadium. Over that span, Sadiq — who's already missed a substantial amount of practice — will have to ramp things up and get to game speed in order to make an immediate impact for this Jets offense.
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