Chargers’ Oronde Gadsden Faces New Role Behind Charlie Kolar, David Njoku

The Los Angeles Chargers have officially revealed their first unofficial depth chart ahead of Sunday's season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, and one notable development comes at tight end.

For the first time, Oronde Gadsden is not listed as one of the top two options at the position.

Instead, Charlie Kolar and veteran David Njoku are listed ahead of Gadsden, with Kolar and Njoku sharing the top spot on the Bolts' depth chart. Gadsden is listed behind both players heading into Week 1. 

That doesn't necessarily mean Gadsden is going to have a lesser role.

In fact, the Chargers could have a very specific plan for the second-year tight end as they enter the season with arguably one of their deepest tight end rooms in recent memory.

Gadsden has already established himself as an intriguing young piece for Los Angeles. After showing flashes throughout his rookie season and continuing to make an impression during the offseason, he entered training camp as one of the players worth watching on the Chargers' offense under new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

However, he will now have to carve out his role behind two established veterans.

Kolar gives Los Angeles a reliable option who can contribute as both a blocker and receiver, while Njoku brings years of NFL experience and proven production to the position. Having those two ahead of Gadsden gives the Chargers the flexibility to avoid putting too much responsibility on the young tight end immediately.

It could also allow Gadsden to focus on the areas where he can be most dangerous.

Rather than being asked to handle an every-down role, Gadsden could potentially see his snaps increase in specific offensive packages, particularly when the Chargers want to get multiple tight ends onto the field.

If Kolar or Njoku draws coverage from a linebacker or safety, Gadsden could potentially exploit the resulting matchup elsewhere. His ability as a receiving threat gives the Bolts another way to stress opposing defenses without necessarily needing to put him in a traditional starting role.

And this depth chart should not be viewed as a permanent declaration about Gadsden's place in the offense.

It's an unofficial depth chart for a reason, meaning Gadsden's position behind Kolar and Njoku does not necessarily tell the entire story of how many snaps he will receive. 

For now, though, the depth chart provides an interesting glimpse into how Los Angeles could approach Gadsden's sophomore season.

He may not enter Week 1 as the Chargers' top tight end, but that doesn't mean he can't become an important part of the offense.

With Kolar and Njoku ahead of him, Gadsden could have the luxury of developing while still being given opportunities to make an impact. If he takes advantage of those opportunities against Arizona, his role could grow much faster than the initial depth chart suggests.