We’re still several months away from the start of the 2026 regular season and we’ve already bee seen one young Chargers player get bombarded with lofty expectations for his sophomore season. Tight end Oronde Gadsden II, the team’s fifth-round pick in 2025, broke out as a rookie with 49 catches for 664 yards and three touchdowns. This all came after he was inactive for the first several games, as well.
Now entering his second season, Gadsden continues to find himself in the occasional spotlight, just
like he did in this new article from CBS Sports showcasing one player from each team that could be an under-the-radar breakout star in 2026. Now I personally don’t think Gadsden is under the radar anymore, but that’s okay if some in the media are a little late to the party.
Here’s what NFL analyst Tyler Sullivan had to say about Gadsden and his prospects this upcoming season:
“Gadsden came out of the woodwork as a fifth-round rookie. He put forward a colossal 164-yard game in Week 7, but showed plenty of flashes beyond that, finishing with 49 catches, 664 yards and three touchdowns. That should be enough to have everyone around the Chargers excited for what he’s capable of in Year 2, but some may be led off the scent a bit. The second half of Gadsden’s rookie season was quiet, logging just 12 catches over his final six games. When you pair that with the addition of veteran David Njoku, people may be teetering on calling Gadsden a one-hit wonder. However, Njoku’s deal with L.A. is only for one-year, so Gadsden should still be viewed as the long-term piece in this room. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has featured tight ends in previous stops, including in Miami, where the likes of Jonnu Smith and Darren Waller put up impressive totals. Gadsden could be his next pet project.“
In all honesty, you name any offensive player on the Chargers and someone will likely say this offseason at some point that their stock is pointed to the sky thanks to the presence of Mike McDaniel. That’s all fair and good. But Chargers fans are specifically very hyped about a stud young tight end who can run like the wind and get open when his quarterback needs it. The Bolts enjoyed Antonio Gates into Hunter Henry, and now it’s time for Gadsden to pick up that next link in the chain.
And I know, I know. David Njoku did not sign with the Chargers to be an afterthought. He’ll get his share of looks, but Gadsden should still remain the team’s vertical threat up the seams and in the red zone. If I was a tight end in the NFL, that’s exactly what I’d want my role to be if I was looking to make the most noise as possible.
