The LA Chargers used the picks they received from two former despised players to trade up and draft tight end Oronde Gadsden II in the fifth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In drafting Gadsden, the Chargers have replaced Stone Smartt with a promising pass-catching tight end.
It's almost like Gadsden was meant to be a Charger. The Syracuse tight end revealed after he was drafted that he worked out with Justin Herbert's brother, Patrick Herbert, and met Justin before being drafted by the Chargers.
Madsden wants those workouts to continue and wasted no time making it clear to his new team. Madsden has absolutely zero equity to demand any kind of moves but that did not stop him from sharing his desire to team up with the Herbert brothers in LA.
Chargers TE Oronde Gadsden says he has worked out with Justin Herbert’s brother, Patrick. He said he met Justin once and he was a nice guy.
— Fernando Ramirez (@RealFRamirez) April 26, 2025
He did add he hopes Patrick Herbert is added to the team.
Update: Patrick Herbert signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars after publication.
Oronde Gadsden wants Chargers to add Patrick Herbert (just like fans)
Adding Patrick Herbert is something Chargers fans have circled for months. The Oregon tight end may not be a top draft prospect but any time the Bolts can add another Herbert, fans are going to be interested.
There is absolutely no harm in adding Patrick Herbert as a UDFA after the draft ends. Pairing him with his brother could motivate him to eventually blossom into someone who gets playing time on the Chargers in the future.
At worst, Patrick Herbert doesn't work out and he ends up being one of the roster cuts after training camp. The Chargers don't risk upsetting their star quarterback in any way. If anything, the Chargers would be doing right by their star quarterback by adding his brother to the roster.
The Chargers have shown that they are willing to make moves to make Justin Herbert happy in the past. Jim Harbaugh rehired quarterbacks coach Shane Day, who Herbert is close to, after the previous Chargers coaching staff fired him.
Los Angeles also brought back Easton Stick last offseason after a poor 2023 simply because he was close with Herbert. Stick couldn't cash in on that relationship a second time this offseason, but it did extend his tenure on the Chargers.
By signing Patrick Herbert, the Chargers wouldn't just be doing Justin Herbert a favorite. They would be doing a favor to their new rookie tight end and an entire fanbase that has been clamoring for the feel-good story.
At this point, why not take a swing on the Oregon tight end? What is the worst that could happen?