For the first time, there are six English teams through to the last-16 of the competition, with the potential for several all-Premier League clashes once the bracket is set: Newcastle, for example, will draw either Chelsea or Barcelona in the round of 16.
Arsenal, who topped the league phase, will play Bayer Leverkusen or Atlanta, while their Premier League title rivals Manchester City await to see if they face another blockbuster clash with Real Madrid or a rematch with surprise package Bodo/Glimt.
Liverpool and Tottenham are paired together in the draw – one will play Atletico Madrid while the other will meet Galatasaray – while Chelsea will either take on Newcastle or Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.
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This morning’s draw will not just create the last-16 schedule, but will reveal the path of the Champions League final, as teams also discover who they could face if they progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
Follow live updates from the Champions League draw, below
Newcastle will take on either Chelsea in all-Premier League clash, or Barcelona
Newcastle United are proving that they are a competitive Champions League team as they look to progress further in the European top-flight.
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Four wins and two draws (plus two defeats) was not enough to ensure that Eddie Howe’s side finished in the top eight spots of the league phase table and a battling 1-1 draw with PSG on the final matchday of the league phase meant both teams entered the play-off stage.
Newcastle were drawn against Qarabag who finished 22nd in the table and Azerbaijani side’s form all but abandoned them in the first leg as Anthony Gordon inspired the Magpies to a 6-1 rout in Baku. Newcastle then finished off the job in the second leg to progress 9-3 on aggregate.
Four wins from their last five matches across all competitions puts Newcastle in good form but will they be strong enough to battle past their opponents in the round of 16?
Coming through the play-off stage means that Newcastle will only face one of two opponents: Chelsea or Barcelona. Those two clubs have been paired together after finishing fifth and sixth in the league phase and will be drawn on opposite sides of the bracket.
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(Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 08:05
Champions League play-off results
Atletico Madrid 7-4 Club Brugge
Newcastle 9-3 Qarabag
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 2-0 Olympiacos
Bodø/Glimt 5–2 Inter Milan
Galatasaray 7–5 Juventus
Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 Monaco
Real Madrid 3-1 Benfica
Atalanta 4-3 Dortmund
Galatasaray scored two goals in extra time to knock out Juventus (REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:50
What are the Champions League match dates?
Round of 16: 10/11 & 17/18 March 2026
Quarter-finals: 7/8 & 14/15 April 2026
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Semi-finals: 28/29 April & 5/6 May 2026
Final: 30 May 2026 (Budapest)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:35
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How the Champions League bracket is shaping up
vs Liverpool or Tottenham
vs Sporting or Manchester City
vs Arsenal or Bayern Munich
vs Tottenham or Liverpool
vs Manchester City or Sporting CP
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:20
Give me the last-16 draw permutations!
Barcelona and Chelsea will be drawn against:
Liverpool and Tottenham will be drawn against:
Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray
Sporting and ManchesterCity will be drawn against:
Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid
Arsenal and BayernMunich will be drawn against:
Atalanta or Bayer Leverkusen
PSG won their first ever European Cup last season, beating inter 5-0 in the final (Getty)
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:10
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So, the draw: How does it work?
The teams have been grouped into seeded couplets according to how they finished in the league phase.
So, for example, Arsenal (who finished top) or Bayern Munich (who finished second) will play Bayer Leverkusen, who defeated Olympiacos, or Atalanta, who knocked out Borussia Dortmund.
The eight teams who progressed automatically from the league phase are seeded and will play the second leg at home in the last-16. The eight teams who progressed from the play-offs are unseeded.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:05
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When is the Champions League draw – and how to watch
The Champions League last-16 draw will take place in Nyon at 11am GMT (12pm local time) this morning
The draw will be streamed live on Uefa’s website, YouTube channel and Champions League app.
Jamie Braidwood27 February 2026 07:01
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Hello and welcome
Oh it’s a good day: the Champions League knockout draw for the last-16, quarter-finals and semi-finals takes place this morning.
Five Premier League teams – Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City – had already qualified for the knockout rounds, with Newcastle joining them via the play-offs this week.
The outline of the draw has already been made, with teams grouped into small four-way pools of possible opponents based on their league placings.
Berube also added that no surgery is required for the players. All three players were injured during Wednesday’s loss to Washington.
However, Berube noted that Stolarz’s injury is serious enough that it may impact his off-season.
Stolarz exited the Capitals game in pain due to a lower-body injury suffered after making a save.
The 32-year-old goalie has been plagued by injuries throughout his entire career, and was limited to just 26 contests this season after appearing in a career-high 34 last season.
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Stolarz posted an .893 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average this season, and signed a four-year, $15-million extension that kicks in July 1.
Joshua also suffered an upper-body injury after crashing into the boards following a collision with Rasmus Sandin in the second period.
The 29-year-old, who was acquired in the off-season from Vancouver, totalled 10 goals and eight assists this year. He played in only 55 games, though, as he also dealt with injuries early in the season.
Carlo, meanwhile, suffered a lower-body injury. The 29-year-old’s play has been under a microscope all season due to the exorbitant price the Maple Leafs paid for his services at the trade deadline last season.
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He has seven assists in 55 games this season, and registered 10 total points – all assists – in 88 combined regular season and playoff contests with Toronto over the last year-and-a-half.
The Maple Leafs host the Florida Panthers on Saturday (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. CT, Sportsnet+) in a battle for last place in the Atlantic Division.
Valentin Vacherot created history on Friday as he became the first Monegasque player at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters to reach the semi-finals after defeating Alex de Minaur in the fifth seed after a gruelling 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Following the victory, Vacherot’s girlfriend Emily Snyyder shared a romantic moment with the Monégasque star that she shared on her socials. The 27-year-old will be facing Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals in the Principality.
“It is such an honour to be part of the semi-finals with the three best players of the past few years…I can’t wait to play Carlos tomorrow in my hometown, it is amazing.” – Vacherot commented on his upcoming SF matchup against regning World No. 1 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
Thanks for the submission!
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When Valentin Vacherot marked a career milestone on Friday, his partner Emily was by his side. Soon after his victory, the couple shared a celebratory kiss, which she later posted on her social media, accompanied by an emotional reaction.
Valentin Vacherot shares romantic moment with his girlfriend Emily Snyder after historic win in the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters QF game
Subsequently, Emily shared two other moments from Vacherot’s historic run with heartwarming captions. One of the posts captures the tennis star’s family’s reaction to his magnificent quarter-final win, whereas the other captures Vacherot’s post-game moment.
Valentin Vacherot’s girlfriend Emily shares celebratory moments after quarter final victory at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters
“ABSOLUTE CINEMA” – Valentin Vacherot’s girlfriend Emily captioned her post on IG.
After Valentin Vacherot bagged the Rolex Shanghai Masters title last September, Emily has been his biggest cheerleader. Friday’s victory is marked as extremely special for the couple, as the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters venue happens to be within walking distance of where their love story began four years ago.
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Valentin Vacherot climbs up to No. 17 in PIF ATP live rankings as he is set to face World No. 1 in SF at the Monte-Carlo Masters
Valentin has been on a roll since he bagged three-set victories against Hubert Hurkacz Juan, and Manuel Cerundolo earlier this week, while he crushed a big win against fourth seed Lorenzo Musetti in three straight sets. The Monégasque star played red-hot tennis and secured runs just eight months after his dominating triumph in Shanghai.
“All the guys in the crowd chanting, they are my best friends from when I was nine, 10 years old. It is rare for a player to have this chance to have this many people around. The members sat in the boxes. I am so lucky to have a tournament in my club.” – Vacherot spoke in an emotional moment.
Vacherot now turns his focus to the upcoming semi-final, where he will be facing the reigning World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at the Monte-Carlo Masters
Arsenal F.C. suffered a major blow in the Premier League title race on Saturday after a 2-1 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium.
The result has given renewed hope to Manchester City F.C., who are chasing the leaders with games in hand.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 17th minute when Junior Kroupi reacted quickest inside the box to tap home after a deflected cross fell kindly to him.
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Arsenal responded and found an equaliser in the 35th minute. Viktor Gyökeres stepped up and smashed in a penalty after the ball struck the arm of Ryan Christie inside the area.
Despite several attacking changes after the break, Mikel Arteta’s side struggled to break down a well-organised Bournemouth team. The visitors continued to threaten on the counter attack and regained the lead in the 74th minute when Alex Scott fired a powerful strike past David Raya.
Arsenal pushed hard for a late equaliser but could not find a way through, suffering only their second home league defeat of the season.
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The defeat leaves Arsenal still top of the table with six matches remaining, but their lead remains under threat. Manchester City can close the gap further if results go their way in the coming fixtures, including a key clash against Arsenal next week.
Arsenal’s recent form has raised questions, especially after a mixed run in cup competitions, while Bournemouth continue to impress under Andoni Iraola with another strong away performance.
With a six-shot lead at the Masters halfway point, Rory McIlroy is in prime position to become only the fourth golfer in history to win back-to-back titles at Augusta National, following Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
Preparation for the year’s first major championship is taken seriously by every player in the field. Some opt to play their way in to the week, with an aim of peaking at Augusta, while others try to rest the week before. McIlroy, though, didn’t tee it up at all in competition in the weeks leading up to the Masters, opting to skip the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, Texas Children’s Houston Open and the Valero Texas Open after his T46 finish at the Players Championship.
On Friday, after firing a second-round 65 at Augusta, McIlroy explained why.
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“I honestly just don’t like the three tournaments leading up to this event,” he said. “I’d rather come up here [to Augusta].”
So that’s exactly what he did.
Thanks to the proximity of his home in Jupiter, Fla., McIlroy explained that he was able to fly to Augusta for practice rounds and still manage to arrive home in time for dinner.
“I did a couple of days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with her — or had dinner with Erica probably,” he said. “Like I did a couple of day trips like that where I felt it was a better use of my time than going to Houston or San Antonio.”
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As defending champion, McIlroy’s schedule was more full than usual this year, as he was responsible for hosting the annual Champions Dinner on Tuesday evening. Still, he said his decision to eschew the last three PGA Tour events ahead of the Masters was more about preparation than rest.
“It wasn’t really about conserving energy,” he said. “But just I felt the more time I could spend up here, the better.”
Judging by McIlroy’s performance at Augusta thus far, there may be something to that.
Zougris, a 21-year-old junior who spent four seasons playing professionally in the Greek Basketball League before coming to the United States, appeared in 27 games (nine minutes per) during his first go-around in the collegiate ranks. He averaged 2.6 points on 57.1% shooting and 2.4 rebounds.
Zougris logged only three shifts of 10-plus minutes for Louisville between Nov. 3 and Jan. 13. But he closed the campaign with seven in the final eight — after taking the 6-11 Fru’s spot in the starting lineup.
“Coming over from Greece, (it) just wasn’t going the way he wanted it to basketball-wise,” Kelsey added. “He was having a struggle adjusting; and then his role wasn’t something, obviously, that he envisioned. But he never lost hope — never lost faith.”
“There’s been so much stuff going on throughout the year. It’s been a tough year for me,” Zougris said. “I’ve worked so (hard). … I’m grateful for the opportunity I’ve gotten to show what I can do and help my team win.”
The portal is open until midnight Wednesday, April 22. That’s an entry window; players can take their time finding a new home once they’ve hit the market. College basketball’s regular signing period begins Wednesday, April 15.
Players can choose to withdraw their name from the portal, but programs are not obligated to hold scholarships/roster spots for entrants.
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Reach Louisville men’s basketball reporter Brooks Holton at bholton@gannett.com and follow him on X at @brooksHolton.
Just before the main event, VikingsTerritory will publish a final predictive mock draft, when all clues have been compiled, once and for all. Until then, here’s the penultimate stab at predicting the Minnesota Vikings’ seven-round approach in 12 days.
Minnesota stacks nine picks in this penultimate 2026 mock draft.
The Vikings have nine picks — four before Round 4 and five after.
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Trade-Down Scenario Sends Minnesota in Several Different Directions
Draft showtime nears.
Auburn Tigers defensive end Keldric Faulk (15) charges into the backfield on Sept. 6, 2025, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama, during a matchup against the Ball State Cardinals. Faulk applied steady pressure as Auburn controlled the game, rolling to a decisive 42-3 victory in front of a home crowd. Mandatory Credit: Jake Crandall-Imagn Images.
We felt it was necessary to include one mock draft this cycle that featured a Greenard trade, mainly because the smoke has been out there since early last month.
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So, in this scenario, the Vikings get their 2nd-Rounder from Kansas City, Greenard joins the dynastic Chiefs, and Minnesota turns around to draft Greenard’s replacement in Faulk. The Auburn EDGE is known for his leadership, accountability, and character. He also won’t turn 21 until the fall.
The Vikings would basically start the outside linebacker clock over in this scenario.
The Ringer‘s Todd McShay on Faulk: “Faulk’s draft stock fluctuates wildly, depending on whom you ask. His grades will vary from team to team based on his defensive scheme fit. Expect a wide range of opinions, but the bottom line is that Faulk is a Round 1 pick all day long and should hear his name called in the first 25 picks.”
“There are a lot of similarities between Faulk and Arik Armstead; the latter was also 21 years old coming out of Oregon. Faulk is slightly shorter than Armstead but is more athletically gifted. He should have a long, successful NFL career ahead of him and could be one of the steals in this draft.”
The fruit of the Greenard trade? That’s Price, the RB2 from Notre Dame, who played second fiddle to Jeremiyah Love. Price scored 13 touchdowns last year, even with Love getting the bulk of attention.
He has 4.49 speed, elite vision, and has been compared to Javonte Williams by NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein.
Round 2 (Pick 49) Caleb Banks (DT) | Florida
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Sticking with the defensive line, Banks may fall due to his boom-or-bust profile and injury history. He may not be fully ready because of a foot injury this summer.
The Gator has nose-tackle size with a pass-rusher’s mentality. After the departures of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency, it’s a 2nd-Round steal in Banks to Minnesota.
Round 3 (Pick 82) Connor Lew(C) | Auburn
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has hinted that his team will explore a rookie center after Ryan Kelly retired in March; Lew is the route in this mock draft.
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Lew is 6’4″ and 310 pounds, and his draft stock has fallen to Round 2 or 3 because of an October ACL tear. He’s known for fluidity and has a wrestling background. Blake Brandel may start Week 1 at center, but Lew wouldn’t be too far behind in taking the starting job.
Round 3 (Pick 97) Kamari Ramsey (S) | USC
Preferring OLB and DT on defense to start this mock, Minnesota doesn’t exit the draft without a safety. Ramsey is 21 and a guy who could eventually wear a green dot in Brian Flores’s defense.
Often, excellent safeties can be found in the draft’s mid-rounds. The Vikings lean into that mentality after passing on Dillon Thieneman and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
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USC safety Kamari Ramsey addresses reporters on Jul 24, 2025, at Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, during Big Ten media days. Ramsey discussed his development and expectations heading into the season, drawing attention as one of USC’s defensive leaders during the conference’s annual offseason media gathering. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images.
The Athletic‘s Dane Brugler on Ramsey: “Ramsey might not have any one exceptional trait, but he is solid across the board with his athletic tools, smarts and toughness. Staying healthy will be the most important hurdle when it comes to locking down a regular role.”
Minnesota has already met with Claiborne, whose draft stock has climbed in recent weeks. His skill set is reminiscent of De’Vone Achane in Miami, and the Vikings’ new assistant head coach, Frank Smith, just spent three seasons with Achane.
Behind Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Jadarian Price, Claiborne slips onto the purple depth chart as more youth at running back, which Minnesota desperately needs after swinging and missing on DeWayne McBride and Ty Chandler in recent drafts.
And, yes, it’s two running backs in the mock because there’s an extra roster spot after C.J. Ham’s retirement. That — and Jones will turn 32 in December. He’s virtually assured to be hampered by some kind of injury in 2026.
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Round 6 (Pick 196) Domani Jackson (CB) | Alabama
Jackson started for two years at Alabama, and that school isn’t known for producing duds.
This 23-year-old is also fast as hell and can be used on special teams. Some will claim this is too late for Minnesota to draft a cornerback, but the aforementioned Flores has proven that cornerbacks aren’t an extreme priority in his system.
Round 7 (Pick 240) Caleb Douglas (WR) | Texas Tech
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Texas Tech wide receiver Caleb Douglas (5) takes the field on Nov 29, 2025, at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia, during a game against the West Virginia Mountaineers. Douglas entered the action in the second quarter, adding speed and energy to the Red Raiders’ offense in a road environment. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-Imagn Images.
Douglas is a deep threat who can get vertical with the best of this rookie class. He started two years at Texas Tech and logged 846 yards and 7 touchdowns last year.
Round 7 (Pick 244) Eric Gentry (LB) | USC
When the offseason began, inside linebacker felt like a probable Vikings need, but then the club re-signed Eric Wilson and Ivan Pace Jr.
The fact remains that Minnesota confusingly dropped Kobe King and Austin Keys last year, two depth linebackers, so Gentry is the selection to round out the draft. Gentry has a 35-inch wingspan and could likely contribute immediately on special teams.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta describes the 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth as “a big punch on the face” as they drop points in the Premier League title race.
Carolina’s offseason started fast when they burgled Jaelan Phillips away from Philadelphia via an incredible $30 million per year contract in the opening minutes of free agency. A team well acquainted with roster holes, the Panthers intentionally filled arguably their biggest need at edge almost immediately, while bringing in several other players on day one including linebacker Devin Lloyd, offensive linemen Luke Forner and Stone Forsythe, cornerback Akayleb Evans, and other ex-Eagles quarterback Kenny Pickett and wide receiver John Metchie III. And they kept signing – between 3/10 and 3/20, they signed 21 players in a mad dash of transactions that would leave Julian Vandervelde’s head spinning (they even signed yet another Philly alumnus, RB AJ Dillon … was the Red Rifle trade some kind of peace offering? (Probably not.)) While, of course, not all of these players are starters, Carolina’s activity helped fill holes, add depth, and potentially provide them optionality in the draft.
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Looking at their roster, Carolina has several bright spots. Adding Phillips and Lloyd to a defense featuring stars Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown as well other solid players like Tre’von Moehrig, Mike Jackson, Bobby Brown, Tershawn Wharton, and Nic Scourton has the makings for a competitive unit. On offense, while there are questions around Bryce Young, he has taken steps forward in years two and three, surpassing 3,000 yards and throwing for 23 TDs in 2025. Due to that progress, Carolina seems prepared to build around him and see if he continues to take positive steps. Around Young, Carolina has some O-linemen to potentially be excited about (at least at guard and tackle) and some skill players that could form a strong core – particularly AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan.
Having said all of that, there are certainly needs. Sites that cover the Panthers seem to vary on the severity of some of these but point out, to some degree, needs along both lines and possibly at WR or LB. However, many point to TE and S as the biggest holes on the roster. While I’m a proponent of selecting the best player available as a baseline M.O., it’s hard to ignore glaring needs on a building team and potentially erasing a void by adding someone who could have an immediate impact – a philosophical point espoused by head coach Dave Canales.
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Luckily for Carolina at pick 19, that impact just collided at the intersection of need and available players, despite just missing out on some great options. While Dillon Thieneman, a spice so strong it burns the S out of your mouth (such a fun name to say out loud), would have been a terrific fit here, he is no longer an option thanks to Vikings at No. 18. Neither are most of the top O-lineman or anyone who has ever even audited a class at Ohio State (4 out of the first 9 picks is impressive). But you know who is available? Another exciting safety prospect in Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Oregon’s standout TE Kenyon Sadiq, and a couple compelling edge defenders in Akheem Mesidor and Keldric Faulk. Honestly, I could make an argument for any of these four options and any of them could be a good pick at 19. However, if all of these young men are in range of one another talent/value-wise, and I think they are, one must consider positional value and need to help decide. While being an Eagles fan has taught me to lean edge over safety and TE, I have to look closely at a roster that has several pass rushers, including the gem of their free agent class, and the contrasting, significant needs at S and TE. With my options narrowed to choosing between McNeil-Warren and Sadiq, I can’t ignore the potential to surround Young with another dynamic playmaker. Kenyon Sadiq it is and here’s why:
Need
I don’t want to overemphasize need, but addressing Carolina’s TE needs is essential with no compelling option currently on the roster. Sadiq would change that. While Tommy Tremble was selected in the third round in 2021, he has not proven to be a proficient receiver having never topped 250 yards or 3 TDs in a season (2025 was his best receiving year with 27 catches, 249 yards, and 2 TDs). Ja’Tavion Sanders hauled in 29 catches in 2025 for 190 yards (for a mere 6.6 avg) and a TD over 13 games – a down year after netting 33 catches for 342 yards and 1 TD in his rookie season, 2024.
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Good Production (at least in 2025)
Sadiq has averaged 11.2 yards per catch in college, getting better each year. In 2025, he caught 51 passes for 560 yards (11.0 avg.) and a strong 8 TDs. He was a significant contributor to Oregon’s strong season that saw them advance to the Peach Bowl where they fell to the ultimate national champion Indiana Hoosiers. In a season that saw QB Dante Moore (over 3,500 yards) successfully spread the ball around, Oregon had five players surpass 497 yards receiving, Sadiq’s 560 yards were second on the team and his 8 TDs finished first on the team and led the nation among tight ends. He was reliable, catching 51 of his 71 targets (approximate) for a nearly 72% catch rate. While 560 yards and an 11-yard average are not other-worldly, they are good production especially considering his catch rate, number of scores, and YAC ability. 214 of his 560 total yards came after the catch coming in at a 4.73 YAC average. While this is certainly connected to the high number of screen passes that he caught, it exemplifies his versatility (more on that soon), athleticism (much more on that even sooner), and his abilities with the ball in his hands. Dante Moore had a strong 145.5 passer rating when targeting Sadiq, which transparently is not as high as Moore’s overall regular season number (163.72), but also very good (in the top six among TE’s) and possibly reflective of the high frequency of short throws that came Sadiq’s way.
Traits
Driving these numbers are notable strengths, particularly as a receiver. An incredible athlete (wait for it), Sadiq also exhibited good balance, hands, technique, extension, separation, and body control through the catch process. For example, his two TD game against Rutgers was filled with highlight catches, including an over-the-shoulder TD grab that many college tight ends just cannot do. He has a good feel for finding holes in zone defenses, making contested catches and then breaking tackles thereafter. He had a handful of gloriously angry runs this season that are just too fun to watch.
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Coupled with his strength and ability on screens and in open zones, he has unbelievable speed (wait for it) for a TE. He has the potential to blow the top off a defense from the slot, exposing safeties and linebackers that simply cannot keep up with him. Frankly, he’s going to eat up small slot CB’s and blow past LB’s and most safeties. He’s a matchup nightmare for defenses.
Rare Athleticism
Where Sadiq really stands out is athleticism. His combine numbers were elite. While there are some concerns about his agility, his speed and lower body power are remarkable. Nicknamed “The Freak” by his complimentary if not derivative teammates (Jevon Kearse much, anyone?!), this young man can freakin’ run and freakin’ jump.
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Sadiq set three TE records at the combine this year (caveats aplenty). That day, he tied David Njoku’s nine-year broad jump record of 11’1” AND Dorin Dickerson’s 2010 vertical jump record of 43.5”. While he was moments later out jumped by Eli Stowers in both categories (11’3” broad and 45.5” vertical – both new TE records), his jumping numbers are ostensibly elite. One record that Stowers did not beat… his combine 40-yard dash time of 4.39 seconds. While many sources established this as the new record over Vernon Davis’s 4.40 time, many contest that Davis actually ran it in 4.38. Either way, Sadiq is a special athlete.
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Positional Flexibility
Sadiq is a chess piece (which is an odd analogy for versatility since most chess pieces are highly specific, but whatever), able to move all over the formation. He played inline and detached, in the slot, and can even line up out wide or in the back field in some sets. He caught 37% of his passes behind the line (well above average) and 31% between 0 and 9 yards. That 68% mark shows his ability to work in traffic and highlights his YAC skills as mentioned above. 20% of his targets were medium length (10-19 yards) and 13% of them were beyond 20 yards. He can line up just about anywhere and has ability at all depths of target. He truly is a receiving weapon who strains a defense, particularly if playing in an offense that utilizes pre-snap motion, which the Panthers did more of in 2025 at 57% (at least compared to an abysmal 22% of their snaps in 2024) but could still increase. In a copy-cat league, it is worth noting that 2025 marked an all-time high in pre-snap motion across the league at 63.9%. A player like Sadiq could unlock new twists and multiply how the Panthers offense operates, scheming him and his teammates open.
Weaknesses
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The main concerns with Sadiq are his blocking (due to “tweener” size), relative experience, and consistency translating his traits and strengths play-in and play-out. Blunt truth: Sadiq is small for an NFL tight end. At 6’3” (15% among TE’s), and 241 lbs. (9%) with 31.5” arms (7%), he is not going to overwhelm a defensive lineman with his size. Understand, he is not weak. He actually played in line 44% of the time and recorded a 68.7 career PFF Run Block Grade (65%) which is a favorable comparative mark to recent TE sensations Colston Loveland and Brock Bowers (not saying he is on the same level as them). However, he is obviously not a mammoth blocking TE and should not be used as one, at least too frequently.
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As a player that translates more as a big slot or movable piece than he does as an inline blocker, he needs to be fit into a role that maximizes his strengths. To be clear, “blocking want-to” is not an issue. Sadiq plays hard, is strong, and seems to enjoy blocking, especially in the open when he can level a guy and look for another. He can be a tenacious blocker. There are just moments when he does not match up well against larger players (specifically in pass protection) and could use technique refinement. That limitation may give some teams pause in the first round.
With only 80 catches in college, he does not have the body of work that some top TE’s in other years did and despite a high catch rate, there do seem to be the occasional concentration-lapse, possibly from trying to turn and run just a moment too soon. While most of these weaknesses can improve with coaching and experience, especially issues of technique and focus, his size may limit how offenses can use him consistently.
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Impact
Recognizing that I wrote way too much about need above, I want to qualify that it’s not just about a hole on the roster, it is more about the impact Sadiq can have on the offense. In an offense with a potentially budding star WR in McMillan and other pass catchers with potential, a potent RB pair in Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard and a mobile, progressing QB like Bryce Young, Sadiq could prove to be an offensive weapon that makes Carolina an incredibly tough matchup for defenses. His ability to find a hole in the zone or take a screen pass and churn out tough yards / generate YAC as well as his elite speed to create down field are special and require attention by defenses. They have to plan for him. He has the ability to produce yards and points or to simply preoccupy safeties and clog the middle when necessary to loosen up coverages for teammates on the edges.
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Adding Kenyon Sadiq instantly makes the Carolina offense fun and competitive. The Panthers won the weak NFC South with an 8-9 record last year, taking it over Tampa Bay and Atlanta via tiebreakers. In a weak division, this team could become a consistent playoff team and potentially one that brings some joy to their fanbase, one that has not seen much success over the last decade. For me, Sadiq is a special talent and could be a piece that takes the Panthers’ offense to a new level.
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*That was as TLDR as possible. Work sucked this week and I needed this. I hope it was enjoyable to read. Thanks.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the Paris Marathon sees participants staying connected throughout the race, with technology playing a key role in managing exertion and optimizing performance. Caitlin Brown reports.
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