The Chargers didn’t exactly hide their intentions this offseason: one tight end wasn’t enough.
Los Angeles watched Oronde Gadsden II turn into one of Justin Herbert’s favorite targets in 2025, then went out and signed David Njoku to a one-year deal. That move didn’t settle the tight end picture. It blew it wide open.
Gadsden still has a strong case to open 2026 as the starter. The former fifth-round pick outperformed expectations in his rookie season, finishing with 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns. He entered the year without the label of top tight end, but by the end of the season, his converted wide receiver background was showing up all over the field and giving Herbert a reliable weapon.
He’s also only 23, which makes him the obvious long-term answer at the position. His connection with Herbert and the coaching staff grew as the season went on, and plenty of people expected him to be the unquestioned No. 1 tight end heading into 2026 before the Njoku signing changed the equation.
And Njoku is no throw-in. He brings nine years of experience and a Pro Bowl nod, plus a track record as one of the more dangerous receiving tight ends in the league when he’s rolling.
His calling card has long been yards after the catch, and his 882-yard season in 2023 showed exactly what he can do at his peak. Even after an injury-hit 2025, the Chargers clearly believed he could help right away and give Herbert another trustworthy red-zone option.
That leaves the real puzzle for offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who has a history of finding ways to feature athletic pass catchers. His offenses have often used multiple tight end looks, and that could be the key here. Instead of a clean winner-take-all battle, Los Angeles may be looking at a setup where both players are on the field plenty.
For Herbert, that’s not exactly a bad problem to have. Gadsden can threaten the seam.
Njoku can find space in coverage and turn catches into extra yardage. After a season ago, when the Chargers didn’t have these kinds of options, the position now looks much deeper and much more interesting.
In Other News...
Chargers Just Added A Massive Rookie Tackle Fans Will Debate Fast
The Chargers kept adding to their offensive line with a move that fits both the present and the future, taking Travis Burke out of Memphis in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft and quickly getting him under contract on a four-year deal. Burkes path to the league ran through Gardner-Webb, FIU and Memphis, and his college tape plus physical traits were enough to put him on NFL scouts radar as a tackle worth developing.
For Los Angeles, the appeal is obvious: Burke arrives as a developmental piece behind an already established group, giving the team another young body to shape without asking him to carry an immediate load. The bigger question is how quickly he can turn those tools into dependable NFL play, especially with evaluators still sorting through where his best fit ultimately lies. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Just Got A Reason To Believe The Chiefs Can Fall
The Chargers have spent years trying to close the gap in the AFC West, and this is the kind of outside noise that at least makes the chase feel a little less daunting. ESPN analyst Ben Solak pointed to Kansas Citys ongoing roster reshaping and the reality of contract decisions hanging over veteran players, arguing that the Chiefs may not look as untouchable down the line as they have for much of the Patrick Mahomes era.
For Los Angeles, the more interesting part is what comes next on its own side of the ledger. A roster that can stack up with Kansas Citys, plus a fresh offensive voice in Mike McDaniel, gives the Chargers a plausible path to making the division race real if Justin Herbert can settle quickly into the new system. Herberts adjustment could end up being the swing factor if the AFC West starts to tilt at all. [Read more 🡒]