The Los Angeles Chargers have a number of offensive breakout candidates in 2026, in large part due to the introduction of their new offensive scheme under Mike McDaniel.
Omarion Hampton should be able to take a major step forward, assuming he's healthy, under McDaniel's outside-zone run scheme. Hampton has the burst and the versatility to be a tone-setter for the entire offense when he's called upon.
In terms of the passing game, almost every receiver has room to take strides this season. Both Quentin Johnston and Ladd McConkey need to prove themselves as alpha receivers, while both Tre' Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith will likely see more touches in their sophomore campaigns.
But the most volatile of their breakout candidates remains Oronde Gadsden II. Although Gadsden had a strong start to his rookie year, his production fizzled out towards the end of the campaign. With the additions of Charlie Kolar and David Njoku this offseason, his role likely remains in flux heading into the season.
But Tyler Sullivan at CBS Sports has listed Gadsden as Los Angeles' prime breakout candidate in 2026, and for one key reason. While Njoku could be a major offensive threat, the short-term nature of his contract makes it clear who the long-term answer at tight end is.
"When you pair that with the addition of veteran David Njoku, people may be teetering on calling Gadsden a one-hit wonder. However, Njoku's deal with L.A. is only for one-year, so Gadsden should still be viewed as the long-term piece in this room. New offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel has featured tight ends in previous stops, including in Miami, where the likes of Jonnu Smith and Darren Waller put up impressive totals. Gadsden could be his next pet project." Tyler Sullivan, CBS Sports
Oronde Gadsden II needs to continue to see a major target share in 2026
In a room composed of Will Dissly, Tucker Fisk, and Tyler Conklin in 2025, Gadsden quickly emerged as the Chargers' primary pass-catching threat at the tight end position. Although he didn't see a single snap across Weeks 1 and 2, he amassed 32 receptions for 453 yards and two touchdowns across his first seven games at the NFL level.
Of course, as the offense stalled and Tre' Harris came to take on a bigger role in the offense, Gadsden's lack of blocking abilities ultimately limited his opportunities towards the end of the campaign.
From one perspective, 2026 could simply be a repeat of that development, especially with Kolar and Njoku in the fold. Kolar is one of the league's premier blocking tight ends, while Njoku possesses a solid mix of both red-zone pass-catching abilities and in-line blocking potential. Although McDaniel seems poised to use a number of heavy sets, granting opportunities to all three tight ends in the regular course of the offense, Gadsden could quickly be supplanted by both of these pieces from a perspective of down-to-down utility.
But Sullivan highlights an important factor here. While Njoku has the potential for a major offensive resurgence after a disappointing 2025 campaign, there's a reason the Chargers signed him to only a one-year deal. He'll be 30 by the start of this upcoming season, and it's unclear how much he has left in the tank from a dynamic, playmaking perspective.
Kolar, meanwhile, likely has room to grow as a pass-catcher, but his role is pretty clearly defined as a blocker.
Gadsden is Los Angeles' long-term answer at tight end. If he can improve in his blocking abilities, and the Chargers are able to consistently pair him with stronger blockers, he has the dynamic-play potential and the strength in the intermediate parts of the field to develop into a cornerstone of this offense. While he could be sidelined in the short-term by Los Angeles' re-shaped tight end room, the Chargers need to continue to develop him in his sophomore campaign.
That means keeping his target share steady, and it also means that there is still major room for a Gadsden breakout in 2026.
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