This was no deke for Kenyon Sadiq.The New York Jets spent the No. 16 overall pick on Sadiq, the consensus best tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft, as they look to dial it up on offense for the upcoming season.As it goes, phone calls to draftees are among the highlights of draft weekend, and the Jets' call to the Oregon product was no different. Except, Sadiq felt the call he was getting maybe wasn't on the up-and-up.The No. 16 pick admitted to Jets head coach Aaron Glenn that he thought he was being prank called, prompting laughs and smiles around the Jets' draft room.Take a look:definitely not a prank call @KenyonSadiq 😂 pic.twitter.com/dhdKLcYQGQ— New York Jets (@nyjets) April 24, 2026"I was thinking this was a prank call for a second," an emotional Sadiq told head coach Aaron Glenn."No, we're not pranking you, brother," a smiling Glenn said, with the Jets' draft room echoing with laughter.
"You're gonna be a Jet, you're gonna be a Jet. Trust me on that, man, you've been a target for us for a while." MORE: 2026 NFL Draft Round 1 grades: Analysis for every pickPrank calls to draft prospects have been a small but prominent part of the NFL draft in recent years.
Notably, in 2025, Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders was prank called by the son of Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich amidst the passer's precipitous tumble down draft boards.Phone drama reemerged in the 2026 draft, with wide receiver Makai Lemon getting in a game of phone tag with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, ultimately landing with Philadelphia amidst some phone-line confusion.Quarterback Geno Smith will look up Sadiq's number, as well as fellow 2026 first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr.'s, as New York adds juice to its offense. If they accomplish that, then a long-awaited playoff appearance may be on speed dial for "Gang Green" in 2026.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jets draft pick thought he was prank called by team during 2026 NFL Draft