The Chargers hit on Oronde Gadsden II on the third day of last years' NFL Draft. He went on to produce the most receptions and yards by a rookie tight end in franchise history. In theory, the goal should be continuing to build out a great tight end room around him.
Will Dissly is a possible Chargers cut candidate considering his $5.5 million cap hit in 2026 and lack of a role. Free agent acquisition Tyler Conklin never had the impact that the front office hoped for. It's possible Tucker Fisk isn't the best fit for a Mike McDaniel scheme. Ultimately, the Chargers will likely have to reshape most of the tight end room outside of Gadsden.
Here are three tight ends from each day of the 2026 NFL Draft that could be a fit for the team.
Tight end options that might work for the Chargers in the 2026 NFL Draft
Day 1 of the draft: Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah drafted Sadiq to the Chargers in his most recent mock. The Oregon TE earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in his breakout campaign. Sadiq was an explosive play creator with 560 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. His strength while blocking on tape is an underrated aspect of his game.
It's easy to imagine how the Chargers could use him as an explosive play threat with Justin Herbert. At Oregon the last two years, Sadiq averaged 11.6 yards per reception. He's a massively built vertical field stretcher that becomes a problem for most defenses.
Sadiq is not quite in the Colston Loveland/Tyler Warren/Brock Bowers tier of first round tight ends as a prospect. There's parts of his games to clean up like his drop rate this past season and more technical blocking refinement. But in a weaker first round draft class overall, he very well could be best player available for the Chargers.
If the Chargers fill out their offensive line in free agency well enough, Sadiq would be an incredible "luxury" pick for OC Mike McDaniel. Him and Gadsden together could be of the most talented TE rooms in the league.
Day 2 of the draft: Stanford TE Sam Roush
Sam Roush would be a nice option for the Chargers in the second round. He's one of the few tight ends in this draft past Sadiq that can survive as an in-line blocker and contribute as a pass catcher in year one. Roush hit career highs in 2025 with 49 receptions, 545 yards and two touchdowns.
If the Chargers are letting go of Dissly before free agency, the goal should be trying to surround Gadsden with as many Y blocking tight ends as possible. Roush profiles as someone who would be worth the investment there while also getting defenses to bite on a few non-Gadsden targets up the seam.
With proven capability as a blocker and some potential as a receiver based on his final Stanford season, Roush would be a great third-round range selection for the Chargers.
Day 3 of the draft: Utah TE Dallen Bentley
Dallen Bentley is effectively the day three version of the Roush profile. Great blocker, better than expected pass catcher. He had his breakout season in 2025 with 620 yards and six touchdowns at Utah. Before this past season, Bentley had just over 130 yards and two touchdowns for his collegiate career.
He was never expected to be the explosive playmaker in the passing game that he ended up being for Utah. Finding someone who profiles as a Y blocker that can also do more on top of it should be an emphasis for Mike McDaniel's scheme. He's a really smart player in red zone scenarios and showed a lot of development at attacking zone looks in 2025.