NFL analyst pinpoints Chargers' biggest need heading into camp (but he's wrong)

The Los Angeles Chargers have taken plenty of heat throughout the offseason for not addressing certain needs on the roster. And make no mistake about it; there were plenty.

With training camps right around the corner, CBS Sports' Josh Edwards recently took some time to opine on the biggest remaining need for every AFC team. And in his assessment of the Bolts, he mentioned several positions but ultimately opted to go with tight end, which is an interesting choice with how he broke things down.

"Despite the signing of veteran Donte Jackson, cornerback remains a potential problem area for Jim Harbaugh's team," Edwards wrote. "It may not be realistic to expect the defensive tackles to play as well as they had in 2024, and there is a big emphasis on older pass rushers Khalil Mack and Bud Dupree performing in the absence of Joey Bosa. 

"For the way Harbaugh wants to execute his offense, the presence of a field-stretching tight end would be invaluable. Tyler Conklin and Will Dissly are currently competing in that room with rookie Oronde Gadsden."

That's literally the entire section, and I find it very interesting that he chose to highlight other areas before ever mentioning the position he feels needs the most help. I also feel compelled to point out the fact that he made no mention about the issues on the interior offensive line.

But everyone is obviously entitled to their own opinion, so let's have a look at what the Chargers' tight end situation looks like.

The Chargers signed a tight end in free agency and also drafted one

It's no secret that Will Dissly handled the vast majority of the load at tight end for the Chargers a season ago, catching 50 passes from Justin Herbert for 481 yards with a pair of touchdowns.

The only other tight end on the roster to hit triple digits in yardage was Stone Smartt, who went for 208 yards on 16 receptions. So, it was clear the position needed to be addressed.

Now, perhaps Edwards feels the Bolts didn't do enough to get Dissly some help, but it's not as if they didn't do anything.

For starters, they went out and signed veteran Tyler Conklin, who's averaged 553.8 yards per season over the last four years and has long been a solid blocker. Is he the "field-stretching tight end" that Harbaugh apparently wants? No. But he certainly brings some depth.

In addition, Los Angeles used a fifth-round draft pick on Syracuse star Oronde Gadsden II, who actually played wide receiver in his first two seasons for the Orange before making the move to tight end.

Gadsden set a school record for receptions in 2024, logging 73 for 934 yards with seven touchdowns. His blocking still needs some work, but the ability is there for him to step up and steal some snaps from Dissly and Conklin as a rookie.

Do the Chargers have the best tight end room in the NFL? Certainly not. But the situation isn't as dire as Edwards makes it out to be, at least not in this writer's eyes.

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