Not every free-agent signing is going to work and the LA Chargers were reminded of that time and time again under previous GM Tom Telesco. Telesco's hit rate on external free agents was pretty abysmal, and his last free-agent signing may have been his worse.
The Chargers signed standout cornerback J.C. Jackson to a five-year, $82.5 million contract during the 2022 offseason. Jackson's tenure with the Chargers literally could not have gone worse as injuries and horrible play quickly ended his time in LA.
Somehow, some way, the Chargers were able to swing a trade and get something for Jackson (from his former team, nonetheless). In October of 2023, the Chargers traded Jackson and a future seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots for a future sixth-round pick.
On Saturday, the bill for that future sixth-round pick came due. Instead of using the selection itself, the Chargers packaged the pick alongside the No. 209 pick to move up to pick No. 165. The No. 209 pick is also notable as it is the compensatory pick the team received for losing Kenneth Murray.
Chargers draft Oronde Gadsden II thanks to J.C. Jackson and Kenneth Murray
Los Angeles received a compensatory pick for Murray after he signed a two-year deal with the Tennessee Titans last offseason. Murray's struggles continued in Tennessee and the Titans rushed to trade him to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
The Chargers used the two picks obtained from despised former players to take a pass-catching tight end with real potential. Syracuse's Oronde Gadsden II has one of the highest pass-catching ceilings of any tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft.
So why did Gadsden fall? He is a bit of a one-trick pony as a pass-catcher. Gadsden has a lot of work to do in the blocking department, and quite frankly, may never piece that part of his game together at the NFL level.
However, he can add an even more lethal pass-catching dynamic than Stone Smartt or Donald Parham did in recent years. It's clear the Chargers are buying into this pass-catching ceiling as the team was compelled to move up in the draft to take him.
The NFL is often a full-circle league and this is another example of that. This Chargers regime used picks it obtained from two despised former players, who had nothing to do with this current regime, to move up and take someone who fans are excited about.
My wife loves to talk about girl math when explaining a purchase she makes. This is a perfect example of football math. The Chargers essentially got those two picks for free, making this selection even better.