Is it a position of need?

Yes, but perhaps somewhere in the middle, according to Sikkema.

“Tight end is very interesting for the Chargers,” Sikkema said. “Oronde Gadsden is not somebody that you’re going to put on the line of scrimmage so he’s basically a big, power slot type of player, which is OK because you signed Charlie Kolar, who can play on the line of scrimmage.

“I would say that tight end is a need for this team, and I’d probably prioritize it over positions such as running back and wide receiver,” Sikkema added. “But I do see a world where the board doesn’t fall and they have to go into next year with Kolar and Gadsden, you could do worse than that.”

In other words, the Chargers could pounce if the right tight end is available to them in the draft.

But if they don’t select one in April, Kolar and Gadsden represent a great 1-2 punch for the Chargers offense.

Key Questions for 2026

1. What did you make of Oronde Gadsden’s rookie season?

“I’ll be honest, he was so much more than what I thought he was going to be as a rookie. I was one of the analysts who was much lower on Oronde Gadsden when he was coming into the NFL … but he proved he is athletic enough to be a difference maker even if he is sort of that big, slot type of a receiver. He creates mismatches against defenses … there’s not a lot of nickel defenders who have the ability to carry with him down the field. I think we saw that last year and the Chargers realized that early on in the summer.”

2. How will Charlie Kolar impact the Chargers offense?

“When people think of Mike McDaniel, they think of athletic tight ends. But you still need to have guys on your team who can play on the line of scrimmage … guys who can block and go six along the offensive line when the situation calls for it. To me, his presence there means he can play in-line for him and that’s really important.”

3. What traits does a tight end have in Mike McDaniel’s ideal offense?

“It’s explosiveness and getting vertical. McDaniel is all about spreading things out whether that’s horizontally or vertically. It’s all about stretching the field and winning in contested catches.”