NFL Rookie Thought Dream Draft Call Was a Prank

When the call that changes your life comes through, what if you think it's a joke?

That's exactly what happened to Kenyon Sadiq when the New York Jets called Thursday to make him the 16th overall pick in the NFL Draft. The 21-year-old tight end from Oregon answered cautiously, clearly unsure if he was really talking to general manager Darren Mougey.

"You're doing good. We're going to pick you right here and make you a New York Jet," Mougey told him over the phone.

"OK. I appreciate it," Sadiq responded, his tone still guarded and uncertain. You can almost hear him thinking: Is this real or is someone messing with me?

It wasn't until head coach Aaron Glenn jumped on the line that reality started to sink in. "Kenyon, how you doing, buddy?" Glenn asked warmly.

"I'm doing good. I'm excited, coach," Sadiq replied, his voice finally showing emotion. But the doubt lingered.

"Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I was thinking it's going to be a prank call for a second," Sadiq finally admitted. Glenn laughed and reassured him: "No, we're not pranking you, brother. You gonna be a Jet. Trust me on that, man. You've been a target for us for a while."

Sunny's Take

There's something beautifully human about Sadiq's hesitation. In an era of elaborate draft pranks and social media tricks, his cautious response shows he never took this moment for granted. He worked his entire life for this call, and when it came, he could barely believe it was real.

His stats explain why the Jets targeted him. Sadiq caught 51 passes for 560 yards and eight touchdowns last season, leading all college tight ends in scoring. At the NFL Combine in February, he ran a blazing 4.39-second 40-yard dash, the fastest time for a tight end in 14 years.

The Idaho native earned second-team All-American honors and now joins an exciting Jets offense. He'll team up with wide receiver Garrett Wilson and running back Breece Hall to give new quarterback Geno Smith plenty of weapons next season.

From thinking it was a prank to becoming a first-round NFL pick, Sadiq's journey reminds us that sometimes our dreams come true even when we can hardly believe they're happening.