Syracuse, N.Y. — Tight end Oronde Gadsden II was the first Syracuse player to hear his name called during the 2025 NFL Draft when the Los Angeles Chargers selected him in the fifth round. Now, he is making an early impression on the Bolts’ coaching staff.
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters Thursday afternoon that he often has to kick Gadsden out of the Chargers’ facility. The rookie is either in the film room, weight room or training room at all times of the day.
“That kind of drive is showing up on the field and we love it,” Harbaugh said.
Gadsden accomplished a rare feat at Syracuse, recording 900-yard seasons at both wide receiver and tight end and averaging 6.5 touchdowns in those seasons. As NFL offenses begin to stretch the field more and the Harbaugh-Greg Roman Chargers look for pass catchers to help Justin Herbert, Gadsden was a player that stood out to Los Angeles.
“It was all contested catch,” Harbaugh said. “It was all the catches on the boundary, it was the assortment of routes, the catches in the middle of the field, the catch radius. I just really, really liked and was intrigued by the player.”
No one emerged as a clear second option behind wide receiver Ladd McConkey for the Chargers in 2024, and Roman is known for his love for tight ends, turning Vernon Davis and Mark Andrews into All-Pro selections.
On top of that, Harbaugh is a former NFL quarterback himself, knowing how much of a safety net a tight end can be for the man under center. If Gadsden continues to impress in the summer, the combination of those factors could place him on the field in September.
“He’s showing up and been what we thought,” Harbaugh said. “With the personality that we thought, which was a real competitor, real football player.”