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Oronde Gadsden II

Oronde Gadsden II Player Profile

Summary

  • Drafted: Round 5, 165th overall (2025) by the Los Angeles Chargers. NFL Draft Buzz

  • College: Syracuse University.

  • Key College Statistics / Production: In 2024, Gadsden caught 73 passes for 934 yards and 7 touchdowns. Ourlads Over his college career, he amassed 143 receptions for 1,994 receiving yards and 14 TDs. Sports Reference

  • Accolades / Character: Two‑time First-Team All-ACC (2022, 2024) and Third-Team All-American in 2024. Last Word On Sports Despite missing almost all of 2023 with a Lisfranc injury, he returned with a strong 2024 — showing resilience, maturity, and high football IQ. Last Word On Sports He also left Syracuse as the school’s all-time leading tight end in receptions and receiving yards. Syracuse University Athletics

Strengths

  • Excellent pass-catching / receiving instincts — He runs smooth routes, adjusts in the air, and has a natural receiver’s skill set at the tight-end position. fffaceoff.com

  • High catch radius & leaping ability — At 6′5″ with good length, he’s effective in high-point situations and contested catches. fffaceoff.com

  • Mismatch creator — Tough for linebackers to cover him in space; his size and acceleration make him a vertical threat and a seam option. fffaceoff.com

  • Bounce‑back toughness — Overcame a serious 2023 injury (Lisfranc) to come back and produce at a high level in 2024. Last Word On Sports

  • Proven production when healthy — Two very strong seasons (2022, 2024) with high target volume and efficiency. Sports Reference

  • Athleticism — Athletic traits (speed, agility) are very good for a TE; he projects well in open space and as a receiving weapon. PlayerProfiler

Weaknesses

  • Blocking limitations — Not built like a mauler; his size and strength lean more toward receiving than consistent in-line blocking. NFL Draft Buzz

  • Durability risk — His prior foot injury (Lisfranc) is a concern, particularly for the physical demands of the NFL. Last Word On Sports

  • Transition from WR to TE — Some TE-level traits (especially in blocking and leverage) are still developing given his more recent switch. fffaceoff.com

  • Separation vs heavy traffic — While he’s good in space, he may struggle to consistently separate in tight coverage or when covered by bigger defenders.

  • YAC consistency — While a strong receiver, his yards-after-catch upside may not always be elite, especially in contested scenarios or broken tackles.

Fit & Outlook

Oronde Gadsden II projects as a pass-catching tight end who can be a mismatch weapon in the NFL. His best fit is in an offense that values two‑tight-end sets, leverages the TE in the seam, and uses him as a vertical or intermediate receiving threat. Given his ability to create mismatches, he can become a favorite target on third downs, in play-action, or when creating spacing. If he continues to develop his blocking skills (especially in-line) and stays healthy, he has the potential to be a starting-caliber receiving tight end. Otherwise, his role is likely to begin as a situational, receiving-heavy TE with upside as a move weapon.