The Los Angeles Chargers have been reimagining their staff since their brutal playoff loss to the now Super Bowl underdogs, the New England Patriots.
This reimagination includes the extremely hyped signing of former Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel as their offensive coordinator. A coach who is known to get the most out of lesser talent, harnessing athletic tools and giving an offense easy options to gain yardage.
One of the players who can benefit the most from this hiring is the “extremely intriguing” rookie, Oronde Gadsden II.
Oronde Gadsden II Named as Potential TE1 Candidate for 2026
The Los Angeles Chargers traded up in the 2025 NFL draft to select Syracuse weapon, Oronde Gadsden II, to help add explosiveness to their offense. While playcalling and injuries hampered a lot of the consistency, the fifth-round rookie quickly rose to stardom.
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After a few weeks of being inactive, the Bolts had no other option than to let their rookie off the leash and allow him to blossom. Veterans Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly were not viable options in the offense, giving even more leeway for the Syracuse product to make a name for himself in the NFL.
Come Week 6 against the Mike McDaniel-led Miami Dolphins, Gadsden II began his breakout with seven catches for 68 yards. He followed this performance up with an explosive seven catch, 164-yard and a touchdown game against the then red-hot Indianapolis Colts. Gadsden’s season failed to have another 100-yard game, due to faults that were not his own, but still gave plenty of excitement for his future with the team.
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