2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Oronde Gadsden II (TE – Syracuse)

FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Oronde Gadsden II

Oronde Gadsden II (TE – Syracuse)

6-foot-5 | 236 Pounds

Background

Orande Gadsen’s father played receiver in the NFL from 1995-2003. Gadsen II played sparingly as a true freshman, catching two passes. As a flex tight end, he caught 61-969-6 (15.9) as a sophomore. He sustained a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the second game of the 2023 season. Came back this past year and bounced back, totaling 73-934-7 (12.8) on the year.

Positives

Gadsen has been highly productive during his past two full seasons. He’s a tall, lanky player who’s been kind of a receiver/tight end hybrid, typically lining up in the slot but taking about a third of his snaps as more of a traditional tight end this past season. Despite his thin frame, shows good physicality and competitiveness as a blocker. Athleticism and motor give him good range as a stalk blocker in the screen game.

Gets good extension with his arms to lock out opponents, and works hard to stick with his man through the whistle. A smooth, flexible athlete who runs well for the position. Ran a lot of routes in which he essentially functioned as a safety valve, such as hooks, but can also threaten linebackers with crossing routes or down the seams. Has clean footwork on stutter-step releases. Knows how to modify his tempo to freeze defenders.

Does a nice job of putting some window dressing on his routes to create separation at the route stem. A natural receiver who does a good job of adjusting to throws, showing soft hands and providing a relatively large radius. Despite his thinner frame, has been effective in contested catch situations. Does a nice job of shielding defenders. Graceful runner after the catch with a little bit of wiggle. Was good at creating when he got the ball with some room to work.

Negatives

Season-ending Lisfranc injury in 2023 will require further medical review. Has sort of a linear frame. Gadsen’s build looks more like that of a wide receiver. Functional strength is about what you’d expect given his size. Struggles to mix things up with EDGE defenders and linebackers in the run game. Able to wall off opponents, but doesn’t create a lot of movement. His pad level is relatively high.

Gadsen Lacks anchor strength in pass protection. A relatively sophisticated route-runner, but not particularly explosive out of his stems, relying more on technique to get open. Could do a better job of sinking his hips through the stem to improve his balance. Can struggle to stay on track when dealing with physicality. Not the most powerful runner after the catch.

Summary

A flex tight end who primarily played out of the slot, and who possesses the smooth athleticism, nuanced route-running and soft hands to produce as a receiver down the seams and as a safety valve underneath.

Gadsen is a competitive blocker who engages with solid technique. He could help in the screen game, but his linear frame and lack of ideal bulk/strength prevent him from creating a lot of movement on rushing downs. If his foot checks out during the pre-draft process he could be a pretty nice mid-round flex/big slot option.

Projection: Round 4/Round 5

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Tight Ends

Colston Loveland (Michigan)

A very solid overall tight end who has the type of polish you’d expect given his pedigree. Loveland lined up split out wide or in the slot very often during the games reviewed, showing impressive speed, route-running skills and body control. Provided the Wolverines with a reliable target who could create mismatches against different types of defenders.

Despite not being a primary inline blocker for the team, he is also a physical, aggressive and tough blocker with good effort, sound fundamentals and impressive functional strength. A do-it-all type who looks likely to be a first-round pick at this point, although Lovelans is not quite the physical/athletic freak that typically goes in the first round at his position.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Colston Loveland

Tyler Warren (Penn State)

A big, smooth and versatile tight end who has the functional strength to execute different blocking assignments and who stuffed the stat sheet as one of the focal points of Penn State’s offense this year.

Running a variety of different routes from different alignments and showing the ability to create on underneath throws or come down with contested catches, Warren looks like a reliable option with the skills to play either inline or as a flex option at the next level. Looks likely to be one of the first two tight ends off the board, potentially as high as the first round.

Projection: Round 1/Round 2

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Tyler Warren

Mason Taylor (LSU)

Just a big, tough tight end who works hard to sustain in the run game and who presents his quarterback with a big target and a reliable pair of hands underneath. Taylor was asked to execute various blocking assignments and line up all over the offense in school, so as a three-year SEC starter with pro bloodlines, the level of polish is about what you’d expect.

May never be the fastest or most dynamic receiver, but it doesn’t take a lot of imagination to envision Taylor developing into a no-frills, starting-caliber in-line tight end.

Projection: Round 3/Round 4

Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Mason Taylor

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