Kenyon Sadiq walked into Lucas Oil Stadium on Feb. 27, 2026, with hype around him. He walked out with history. The former Oregon tight end clocked a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine 2026 in Indianapolis, setting a new tight end record and breaking Vernon Davis’ mark from 2006. It was the fastest time by a tight end since official tracking began in 2003.
Kenyon Sadiq’s NFL combine record rewrites tight end history as he surpassed Vernon Davis record
The moment felt big even before the official time flashed on the board. Sadiq’s unofficial 4.40 tied the long-standing record held by Vernon Davis, who ran that time at the 2006 NFL combine. Minutes later, the NFL Network confirmed the official 4.39. The record belonged to Sadiq alone.At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, Sadiq did not look like a track athlete. But he moved like one. He added a 43.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot-1 broad jump. Only Vanderbilt’s Eli Stowers topped him in those jumps, posting a 45.5 vertical and 11-3 broad. Still, the headline belonged to Sadiq because speed at that size changes draft boards.Sadiq’s rise did not start in Indianapolis. He broke out in 2025 at Oregon with 51 catches, 560 yards and eight touchdowns. Those eight scores led all FBS tight ends. He earned second-team Associated Press All-American honours and won Big Ten Tight End of the Year. He finished as a finalist for the John Mackey Award.“Obviously, I think I’ve done a great job on the perimeter. Point-of-attack, blocking, I feel like I do a great job for my size as well. I kind of made that a point of emphasis coming into college,” Sadiq said, according to a post by HuskiesWire’s Alex Katson before the game. “But the NFL is different. There’s definitely a need to improve the point of attack blocking.”NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah ranked Sadiq No. 16 overall entering the week. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. projected him as a mid-first-round pick in his February mock draft. Teams value tight ends who stretch the field. Sadiq just proved he can. The Kenyon Sadiq NFL combine record will stay in draft rooms for weeks. A 4.39 at tight end forces defenses to rethink matchups. On one February night in Indianapolis, Sadiq did more than run fast. He changed the conversation.
