In particular, how will offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel split duties between Njoku and rising second-year tight end Oronde Gadsden?
Free-agent signing Charlie Kolar is the best run blocker in this group, and he has upside as a pass catcher. I see him as TE1 because of his complete skill set. Njoku and Gadsden both impact the game more as receivers than blockers. As Harbaugh said Wednesday, “The athleticism and the catch radius and the speed, they’re very similar in pass catching and route running.” The addition of Njoku allows the Chargers to get into pure three-tight-end sets more often. We saw this package, with Kolar, Njoku and Gadsden all on the field together, during Wednesday’s practice. Previously, the Chargers were looking at Scott Matlock as their third tight end. Or they were going to have to play fullback Alec Ingold in a tight end role in some packages.
Joe Hortiz·
Hortiz: "Man, he’s so fast, and a great kid. He has speed, and explosiveness, and playmaking ability, and I think he’ll bring that here. Just a fun player to watch. Great kid, great worker, just fired up to get him. Mike McDaniel told me before the NFL combine that he loves Keaton Mitchell. Mike was very excited that we signed him. Mike put up “wanted” posters for a couple players — Keaton and Alec Ingold"
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