NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
It took 3 days and 5 rounds for someone from the Syracuse Orange to get their name called on draft day. The Los Angeles Chargers pulled the trigger on former Orange TE, Oronde Gadsden II, in a position of need for LA. What are the Chargers getting with their pick?
Oronde Gadsden II gets his name from a former NFL great himself, Oronde Gadsden the former Miami Dolphin WR. At 6’5″ and 243 lbs, Gadsden will offer a big target for QB Justin Herbert. Receiving options were a bit spotty for the Chargers last year as Ladd McConkey led the group with 1,100+ receiving yards. Out of the tight ends, the lead was Will Dissly who only had 408 yards and 2 TDs. The yards aren’t incredibly low, but your tight end should probably be one of your favorite targets in the red zone.
Gadsden should definitely fill that role. He’s got size for a tight end but was often a hybrid WR as well. In moving him around the field, it allowed Syracuse and Kyle McCord to take advantages of mismatches. He’s got size and decent speed and should stand out like a sore thumb near the sidelines to both be a chain mover and clock management target. Receivers and defensive backs are shrinking in today’s game of speed, so to have a 6’5″ target who has an amazing catch radius will allow Herbert some room for error while still making the play when the pocket collapses or jump balls.
But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows or he would’ve been picked higher in the draft. Gadsden needs to develop consistency. There were times where he would make plays, then all the sudden disappear mid-game. You have to give credit to opponents for making the adjustments and taking Oronde Gadsden out of the game plan, but he’s got to find the aggression that gets him back in the game. While he does have a good catch radius, he’s gotta be able to adjust to the football on broken plays. or passes that aren’t perfectly thrown.
The Los Angeles Chargers needed a tight end and picked a good one in Oronde Gadsden II. If he can come out of camp strong, he could be an instant impact, but chances are he takes a season or two to develop. He’s got a high ceiling and could push 750-1,000 yards and 8’ish TDs but he’ll need some work.
