The first-round calls gave both former Oregon Ducks the kind of landing spots coaches dream about. Kenyon Sadiq went to the New York Jets, where he’s expected to bring a versatile, mismatch-heavy presence to the passing game. Dillon Thieneman landed with the Chicago Bears, who see him as a safety capable of working deep and around the line of scrimmage.
For both players, though, the real test started before any NFL Sundays. Rookie minicamp and OTAs were the first chance to show their new teams how quickly they could fit in.
Sadiq missed that window after undergoing hernia surgery for an injury he dealt with at Oregon. ESPN’s Rich Cimmini reported that the Jets knew about it during the predraft process and that Sadiq is expected to be ready for training camp, even if he’ll be behind.
Cimmini also wrote, "He's expected to be ready for training camp, but he will be behind. OC Frank Reich has a plan for Sadiq, whom he envisions as a mismatch because of his speed and explosiveness."
That’s an intriguing setup for New York, where Reich brings years of coaching experience at both the college and pro levels. With Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall and Sadiq in the mix, the Jets have a group that could be dangerous no matter who’s taking snaps.
In Chicago, Thieneman has already started drawing praise as the Bears try to shore up a defense that allowed the 25th-most passing yards per game. The Bears are coming off a playoff run and added Thieneman to a secondary that also brought in former Seattle Seahawk Coby Bryant.
Bryant had strong words for the rookie, saying, "Once he sees something he recognizes, he makes a play right away," Bryant said. "That's the biggest thing, especially playing safety in this defense as well.
He's had a great spring. I know he'll continue to grow."
Veteran Elijah Hicks, heading into his fifth season after being drafted in the seventh round out of Cal, is the early favorite to start at safety alongside Bryant. Even so, Thieneman has plenty of time to make the job interesting once training camp gets going.
For now, both rookies are making the kind of impression that fits the recent wave of former Ducks finding success around the league.
In Other News...
Oregon State Fans Finally Get The Answer On The New Pac-12
The Pac-12s reset is no longer just a concept on paper. The conference officially relaunched operations on July 1 with Oregon State and Washington State at the center of a rebuilt league that now includes seven new full-time members, plus a larger group of affiliate schools spread across five Olympic sports.
For Beavers fans, the long wait for clarity finally ended with a structure designed to keep the league viable at the Football Bowl Subdivision level and preserve its place in the NCAA tournament picture. The new setup gives Oregon State a conference home again, even if the full competitive shape of the reworked Pac-12 will still take time to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Has An Intriguing New O-Line Question This Summer
Teko Shoats gave Oregon State a spring look at a potentially useful addition up front, even if the evaluation window was limited. The Bethune-Cookman transfer showed the kind of size and physical traits that stand out in individual drills, and his background as a productive FCS lineman gives the Beavers a reason to keep watching closely when the pads come on for real.
Shoats now heads into fall camp with a chance to carve out a role on the offensive line, and the appeal is obvious for Oregon State. He has primarily played tackle, but that experience could give the staff some flexibility as it sorts through the depth chart, and there is at least a path for him to compete for meaningful snaps if he carries his spring momentum into August. [Read more 🡒]
Beavers Fans Are Finally Seeing What Justin Joyner Is Really Like
Justin Joyner is only a few weeks into his first head-coaching job at Oregon State, but the early signs of his approach are already showing up in the little moments. The Beavers are getting a feel for a new staff and a new standard, and part of that process has been the kind of bonding that comes from learning a coachs personality as much as his system. A resurfaced video from Joyners college days has become one of those icebreakers, giving players a glimpse of the humor that sits alongside the demanding tone he is trying to set.
For Joyner, the joke is secondary to the larger point: summer is where toughness and identity start to take shape. He has stressed that the work now will help define what Oregon State looks like when the season arrives, and the roster is still in the middle of figuring out how that culture feels day to day. The video may have gotten the laughs, but the bigger question for the Beavers is how quickly that mix of personality and pressure turns into a team that plays the way its new coach wants. [Read more 🡒]