The Eagles haven’t drafted a tight end in the first round since 1988 when they selected Keith Jackson at No. 13 overall.

But maybe that’ll change this year.

The top tight end in the 2026 draft class is Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon. In his latest mock draft, NFL.com’s Charles Davis had Sadiq landing at No. 23 to the Eagles.

Earlier this week, Davis joined John Clark on the Takeoff with John Clark podcast and explained the fit:

“New offensive coordinator, head coach needs to open up the offense, quarterback needing help with that. What helps a quarterback?” Davis said. “I don’t care if you’re young, old, mid-range, it doesn’t matter. Good tight end play. All of them, they love them. Here you go. Let’s try this one here for Jalen to see if we can get you unlocked. They can’t have anymore second-half games against good opponents with zero completions. That just can’t happen. Remember Buffalo? I realize it was raining, I realize it was cold. That just can’t happen for a team as talented as the Philadelphia Eagles.”

The Eagles are facing an uncertain future at the tight end position this offseason. Their top three tight ends from the 2025 season — Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson — are all set to become free agents next week.

Davis called Sadiq “the most explosive tight end in the draft” and that’s hard to argue. Sadiq was one of the biggest standouts at the NFL Combine last week, when he ran a 4.39 in the 40-yard dash.

Sadiq obviously isn’t the biggest tight end and he’s not known for his blocking ability, especially not at the line of scrimmage. While Howie Roseman admitted he didn’t build the tight end room last year with enough complementary skillsets, Davis still thinks Sadiq’s ability as a pass-catcher makes him worth the pick.

Blocking isn’t what Sadiq is known for, but that’s OK.

“He’s willing but that’s not going to be his major strength,” Davis said. “They can try to sell it to you however they want to but it really fits much more with what Howie Roseman is used to drafting as a move tight end, an explosive guy who’s going to catch the ball first and get involved in the run game second. I think if the Sadiq people heard me talking they might want to take a little bit of umbrage but let’s go watch the tape and you tell me if he’s a masher or not. He’s not a masher. That’s just not what he is. There are very few of those left who are going to play tight end. And, frankly, the ones that are mashers, they’re not catching many balls. 

“What do you want in a game? What do you want for your offense? For me, the sticks move a whole lot better with that guy getting down field and catching it. As long as he’s willing to be involved in my run game and stick his face in the fan a few times and try to get people stalemated so that Saquon Barkley can go.”