Chiefs Draft: Syracuse TE Oronde Gadsden II is worth betting on

As I’ve written in regards to the tight finish prospects that is likely to be out there to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs within the NFL Draft, I’ve been decrease on most of them than many different analysts.

Apart from Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, I wasn’t optimistic about Kansas Metropolis’s choices. I like Elijah Arroyo, however he has a medical purple flag. For quite a lot of causes, I’m not excessive on Mason Taylor, Terrance Ferguson, Gunner Helm or Harold Fannin Jr., both.

However then I watched Syracuse tight finish Oronde Gadsden II. After taking a look at his movie, I’d take him above any of these different tight ends.

Why do I consider in him? Let’s dig in.

Background

Gadsden’s identify could appear acquainted to you. That’s as a result of his father is former Miami Dolphins huge receiver Oronde Gadsden Sr., who collected 3,252 yards and 22 touchdowns over a six-season NFL profession that resulted in 2003.

Popping out of American Heritage Excessive Faculty in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Oronde Gadsden II was a three-star recruit as a large receiver. Whereas he had curiosity from Huge 10 faculties like Penn State, Minnesota and Indiana — and had an SEC provide from Kentucky — he dedicated to Syracuse, the place he spent 4 seasons with the Orangemen.

He broke out in his sophomore season, when he was named first-team All-ACC after recording 61 catches for 975 yards and 6 touchdowns.

He transformed to tight finish for his junior 12 months, however missed all however two video games with a Lisfranc harm. The next season, he bounced again with 73 catches, 934 yards, and 6 touchdowns, making the All-ACC first group and the All-American third group.

Gadsden arrived on the NFL Scouting Mix at simply over 6 ft 4, with 33 3/8-inch arms and 10-inch fingers. At 243 kilos, he has some weight issues — however he did very effectively with a 4.65-second 40-yard sprint (together with a 1.62-second 10-yard cut up), together with stable numbers within the vertical leap (34 inches) and the broad leap (9 ft 6).

Movie analysis

As a former huge receiver, Gadsden primarily performed within the slot, the place he had 380 snaps (44% of his complete) for the Orangemen in 2024 — and generally is a matchup nightmare.

Along with his lengthy legs, Gadsden is greatest on downfield routes. He’s additionally superb on deep crossing routes, the place he can stride out on a vertical launch with sufficient fluidity to generate separation as he crosses the sphere. For Syracuse, Gadsden would run slot fades (like a smaller huge receiver) and get on high of slot defenders, the place he might use his ball abilities (and monitoring means) to win contested catches.

Gadsden’s body makes him lower than best for pivot routes the place he has to sink his hips, however he can work as an beneath route runner. His really feel for area is robust and he’s good at turning upfield on a scramble drill, so he generally is a menace late right into a play.

One underrated facet of Gadsden’s recreation is his work as an remoted huge receiver. Syracuse would sometimes let him play as an X receiver, the place he confirmed the power to win on slant routes. I believe this skillset would greatest be used within the purple zone.

One space the place Gadsden has proven enchancment is his blocking. In 2022, he performed solely 82 snaps (11% of his complete) as an inline tight finish. As he added weight to get stronger, Syracuse was extra snug having him play inline; in 2024, he elevated his snaps there to 350 (41%).

Whereas he’s keen to do it — which is an efficient signal — Gadsden isn’t but superb at blocking inline. He confirmed some flashes the place he blocked effectively — significantly in go safety — and his angles are stable. His improvement in such a short while is encouraging — and he does have the peak, size and wingspan to recommend he can fill out his body. If he can get to 250 kilos or extra, I believe he might have an actual future as an inline blocker.

Doing so would add one other layer to Gadsden’s recreation. He’s already superb at chipping-and-releasing, getting beneath as a late outlet and turning upfield together with his strides.

How he suits with the Chiefs

There’s a lot about Gadsden’s skillset that will intrigue me in Kansas Metropolis, the place the group hasn’t had a good finish with these abilities subsequent to Travis Kelce. Gadsden can stretch the sphere, win on vertical routes from the slot and add some utility as a blocker. Early in his profession, I believe the Chiefs might construct round his means as a slot receiver. Till he provides extra weight, I doubt he’ll play inline very a lot — however till then, his receiving skillset would give him instantaneous utility as a red-zone part within the Kansas Metropolis offense.

The underside line

After Warren, Loveland and Arroyo, I believe many of the tight ends are tasks. It’s truthful to be enthusiastic about Taylor or Ferguson as receivers, however each are too far-off from being good blockers — and I query their means so as to add weight to their frames. Helm has some good tape, but when his athleticism is as poor as his testing revealed, he’ll have little utility. Taking any of those different tight ends within the second spherical — or early within the third — will current a excessive threat.

Gadsden hasn’t been going very excessive in mock drafts, however I see related expertise — and a greater probability at including weight to enhance as a good finish. He’s displayed receiving means throughout a number of seasons and diversified his skillset. If I’m projecting progress, I really feel extra snug with Gadsden’s path than another tight finish after Arroyo.

Grade: Spherical 3