Grading Chargers' fifth-round selection of tight end Oronde Gadsden II

The Los Angeles Chargers, by most accounts, have done a terrific job reshaping their roster this offseason, particularly with the job they did in the NFL draft. If there is one flaw you can point to, it might be that the team hasn't found a great option at tight end. 

The team tried to sign Evan Engram in free agency but settled for Tyler Conklin when Engram chose the Denver Broncos instead. The team likely had its sights set on Colston Loveland, who played under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, in the draft, but saw him go to the Chicago Bears with the No. 10 overall pick. 

The team waited until round five to select a tight end in this draft but came up with an intriguing option in Oronde Gadsden II out of Syracuse. 

Gadsden, whose father Oronde Gadsden spent seven seasons in the NFL, was highly recruited coming out of high school, choosing Syracuse over offers from Penn State and Kentucky. After a quiet freshman season spent mostly on special teams, he was named to the First Team All-ACC squad after catching 61 passes as a sophomore. 

That season, he was moved from wide receiver into a hybrid tight end role, similar to what Engram is today. But the following season, he was limited to just two games and saw his stock take a massive drop. Once viewed as a day two draft pick, Gadsden was all but forgotten last season despite catching 73 passes and scoring seven touchdowns. 

Harbaugh likes his tight ends to be able to block, but he has that in Will Dissly and Conklin. Both of them can be options in the passing game, but Gadsden gives the team a more fluid, athletic option at the position. He could develop into a serious red-zone threat for the team and could be exactly what the team needs in a top-flight receiving option at tight end. 

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Gadsden won't be a plug-and-play guy as a rookie, but he can become a regular contributor with Justin Herbert throwing him the ball. For a fifth-round pick, targeting a position of need, you have to like the possibilities here. 

Grade: B+

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