Antonio Gates is a future Hall of Famer. The 36-year-old tight end is on the verge of greatness, needing one more touchdown (112) to set the all-time touchdown record for tight ends.
But Gates’ career is likely over after the 2017 season ends. The Chargers desperately needed a plan for when Gates retires, and they almost fell short of accomplishing that goal. Former Charger Ladarius Green was supposed to be the heir apparent to Gates, but he never panned out.
Luckily, 2016 was the year the Chargers finally found Gates’ replacement. They drafted tight end Hunter Henry in the second round.