With bigger personnel on the field, Gadsden could be lethal at keeping defenses on their heels.
Nguyen wrote:
The Chargers have second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden Jr., who showed a lot of promise as an explosive pass catcher, but Kolar gives them a strong point-of-attack blocker who will likely start in their 21 personnel packages (two backs, one tight end, two receivers). They'll also have the ability to get into 12 personnel and create mismatches for Gadsden with play-action. Kolar was the final piece in the Chargers' run game rebuild. I'd be shocked if they weren't top-10 in rushing efficiency and explosiveness next season, something Justin Herbert has never had.
Another winner of the Chargers potential bump in the run game? Omarion Hampton.
The Chargers second-year running back has already been a name with a lot of buzz heading into this season with McDaniel, with some believing he is poised for a breakout season.
And the Bolts recent additions led to ESPN's Bill Barnwell naming Hampton as one of the ‘winners’ of free agency so far because of what it could mean for him in Year 2.
Barnwell wrote:
Things were already looking up for the second year back when the Chargers hired Mike McDaniel — one of the league's most innovative and impactful run-game designers -- as their new offensive coordinator. They improved even more over the weekend, when general manager Joe Hortiz replaced retired center Bradley Bozeman with the aforementioned Biadasz, who joined on a three-year pact. Guard Cole Strange, who played in Miami last season, also joined as guard depth. And by Monday evening, things had gotten even better for Hampton, who landed two new valuable teammates beyond the offensive line to help clear out holes…
We're going to see a shift in how the Chargers play offense in 2026. Last season, Jim Harbaugh's team lined up with three or more wideouts on the field nearly 67% of the time, the seventh-highest rate in the league. Oronde Gadsden was also a move tight end who played more like a big wide receiver than a traditional tight end, making those groupings even more wideout heavy.
A much-improved run game could mean big things for the Chargers offense in 2026.