Chargers rookie named breakout candidate in Year 1

Chargers rookie named breakout candidate in Year 1
Bolts From The Blue Bolts From The Blue

Tre Harris will look to not only earn a starting job in 2025, but become one of the Chargers best playmakers as a rookie.

At this point in the offseason, 2025 first-round pick Omarion Hampton has been receiving most of the spotlight in regards to the Chargers’ most recent draft class. It’s easy to why, of course. He’s a big, bruising, and athletic running back that’s set to play in Greg Roman’s run-heavy scheme. All the reasons to believe Hampton will hit the ground running are there.

However, he’s not the only one seemingly with a path to production as a rookie.

Just like in the 2024 draft, the Chargers used their second round pick this year to draft yet another wide receiver in Ole Miss’ Tre Harris. The 6’2, 205-pounder is expected to be the X receiver of the future for the Bolts as the team hopes his outside abilities will complement Ladd McConkey’s skillset out of the slot.

In fact, there are those who believe Harris’ production in his rookie season is directly tied to how success the Chargers can be in 2025.

From a new article by NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha in which he highlights first-year players he believes need to succeed in year one, Harris cracked the list at seventh out of 100 total players included.

“The Chargers hit a home run in the second round last season when they drafted Ladd McConkey, who turned into one of the best slot receivers in the league as a rookie. It would be a blessing for them if Harris, this year’s second-round pick, produces a similar impact. There was no bigger need for the Chargers coming into the offseason than wide receiver. They approached it in free agency by bringing back Mike Williams, who spent seven years with the franchise before playing last season with the Jets and Steelers. Given the inability of Williams to stick with other teams — and the inconsistency of third-year receiver Quentin Johnston — Harris should receive plenty of chances to find a job as a starting receiver on the outside.”

As Chadiha stated above, before the Chargers had the chance to draft Harris they brought back Williams as a means to fill that X receiver role just in case the draft board did not fall in their favor. Luckily things did in fact go there way which means the receiver room is now a whole lot deeper than it was at this time last year.

Chadiha has Harris here on this list because he firmly believes that if he does not pop off as a rookie, the passing game will not likely be all that more productive than it was in 2024. He believes the Chargers’ ceiling truly will come down to how well they can keep a balanced offense. The rushing looks like it just HAS TO be better in 2025 after reshaping that backfield and adding Mekhi Becton at right guard. If the rushing attack is better, than the passing...