The Jim Harbaugh era at the Los Angeles Chargers began with a playoff appearance, but it was short, with a blowout loss in Houston. They finished with a top-5 defense, but the offense took a step back in 2024, prompting the Chargers to invest their top two picks in the offensive positions.
Los Angeles picked Omarion Hampton with the first-round pick and then snagged an X-receiver to complement Ladd McConkey at exceptional value, bringing in Tre Harris at No. 55 overall. The Ole Miss product has already been turning heads at the OTAs and is now named the top rookie to watch out for at the Chargers’ minicamp.
Tre Harris Named Most Exciting Chargers’ Rookie To Watch At Minicamp
The Chargers’ offense struggled when it mattered most last season. Their unit, which ranked No. 17 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric, completely fell apart in the playoffs. Herbert threw four interceptions in the loss to Houston.
Harbaugh’s conservative, run-heavy approach helped stabilize the team during the season, and he doubled down on the run game by adding Najee Harris in free agency and Hampton in the draft.
However, Los Angeles also did enough to upgrade Herbert’s passing ability by selecting Harris, and PFSN’s Brandon Austin believes he would be the most exciting first-year player to watch at the Chargers’ minicamp.
“The additions of Harris and Hampton likely signal that the Chargers’ offense will feature a more ground-and-pound rushing attack that we come to expect from a Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman-coached team,” Austin wrote. “However, they made sure to upgrade their passing attack, drafting wide receivers Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith and tight end Oronde Gadsden II.
“At 6’2”, 205 pounds, Harris projects as a true X-receiver who can complement McConkey’s skill set. He’s an imposing physical presence with elite hands at the catch point. He’s also a dangerous threat in the red zone (15 touchdowns across two seasons at Ole Miss). Harris is impressively explosive and fluid for his size. His combination of athletic profile and tools is something that Los Angeles has been missing, especially with Quentin Johnston underperforming so far in his career.”
Harris played three years at Louisiana Tech before transferring to Ole Miss in 2023. He posted 60 receptions, 1,030 yards, and seven touchdowns in his final college season.
herbo to tre .. we can get used to this pic.twitter.com/go585LWJ3p
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) May 12, 2025
The 23-year-old is an instinctive catcher with acrobatic vertical ability, but he’s not just flashy: He’s workmanlike with his hands and stem work and can be a vital completing piece for Herbert’s WR corps alongside McConkey.
Harris has been exceptional at the OTAs and was seen connecting well with Herbert. However, the first real test awaits at the minicamp, and it would be exciting to watch him unleash his retraction ability on route breaks that catch the defenders off-guard.