The Chargers didn’t go wild in free agency, even with plenty of cap space to spend. Joe Hortiz kept the focus on the trenches and the tight end room, adding center Tyler Biadasz from the Commanders and guard Cole Strange from the Dolphins as Los Angeles works to rebuild the interior of its offensive line.
Then came a pair of veteran tight ends with very different profiles. Charlie Kolar arrived from the Baltimore Ravens on a three-year deal, bringing his reputation as a standout blocker.
In early May, the Chargers also brought in nine-year veteran David Njoku after the Cleveland Browns cut him loose. The 2023 Pro Bowler has played in just 23 regular-season games over the last two seasons, but he still found the end zone often, with nine of his 97 career receptions going for touchdowns.
Even so, the biggest offseason addition may be the one on the headset. Mike McDaniel, the former Miami Dolphins head coach, is now the offensive coordinator, and he’ll have a chance to work with an upgraded line and a tight end group that looks built for different jobs.
That group got a nice nod from Pro Football Focus, where Dalton Wasserman and Max Chadwick released their Top 32 tight end rankings for the upcoming season. Kolar and Njoku were left out, but Los Angeles did have one name on the list: second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who landed at No. 23.
Gadsden’s rookie season turned enough heads to earn him that spot. The 2025 fifth-round pick posted 664 receiving yards, which ranked 11th in the NFL, and his 71.5 PFF receiving grade checked in as a top-20 mark. The downside was his blocking, where he finished with the second-worst PFF run-blocking grade among all tight ends at 32.5.
Buy the fear. Gadsden had a few spike weeks in the middle of the season. - 650 + yards in his rookie season - David Njoku has exceeded that once in his career- Converted WR with a huge frame who can be utilized in a wide variety of ways pic.twitter.com/UpGSWJxeOz
The Chargers have reason to keep leaning on him. Gadsden played in 15 regular-season games, made seven starts, and finished fourth on the team with 49 receptions and 664 yards.
The 6-foot-5, 236-pound tight end also scored three touchdowns and was the only Chargers tight end to catch a touchdown pass last season. He averaged 13.6 yards per catch, a strong number for a player still early in his career.
If Gadsden cleans up the blocking side of the job, he could keep rising from here. For now, he’s the Chargers’ lone tight end in the PFF top 32, with George Kittle, Trey McBride and AFC West rival Brock Bowers sitting at the top of the list. And with Kolar, Njoku and Gadsden all in the same room, Los Angeles may have one of the league’s most varied tight end groups heading into the season.
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Justin Herbert May Finally Get What The Chargers Offense Has Lacked
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Now hes pairing with new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, whose approach is built around quicker throws and taking pressure off the quarterback. McDaniels previous offenses in Miami did that well, ranking near the top of the league in limiting quarterback pressure while also generating efficient production on a play-by-play basis. For a team hoping Herbert can be more protected and the offense more sustainable, that philosophy is the kind of change the Chargers have been waiting for. [Read more 🡒]