Chargers draft WR Tre Harris: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel (original) (raw)

The Los Angeles Chargers added a passing-game weapon by selecting Ole Miss receiver Tre Harris with the No. 55 overall pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

At over 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Harris has the size and contested-catch ability to be a threat on the outside for quarterback Justin Herbert. He was highly productive over his final three college seasons, including 60 catches for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in just eight games last year. Harris missed five games in 2024 with a groin injury.

The Chargers have now selected a receiver in the second round for the second consecutive draft. They drafted Ladd McConkey with the No. 34 overall pick in 2024. McConkey set the franchise rookie records for catches and receiving yards last season. Will GM Joe Hortiz and coach Jim Harbaugh hit on another young pass-catcher?

‘The Beast’ breakdown

Harris ranked No. 65 in Dane Brugler’s Top 300 big board. Here’s what Brugler had to say about him in his annual NFL Draft guide:

You know what you’re getting on his tape: an outside wide receiver who runs a ton of slants and curls, with a post or crosser mixed in (Ole Miss receivers used post-snap reads). But you still have to stop him, and that was a problem for defenses this season. Though he’s not a burner, Harris has the stride speed to be a factor on linear/one-cut routes and displays smooth gear down for clean transitions. The best parts of his game are his hand-eye coordination and finishing toughness to make catches over defensive backs. Overall, Harris doesn’t have the explosive speed or separation skills that teams covet in a No. 1 receiver, but he is a controlled athlete with the play strength and ball skills to be a dependable possession target. He projects as an NFL starter and a team’s No. 2 target — if he can stay healthy.

Scott Dochterman grades the pick

This was a move the Chargers needed to make but you’re surprised they actually did with Jim Harbaugh as the head coach. Harris gives Herbert a quality threat and further improves the overall offense. In two years at Ole Miss (after three at Louisiana Tech), Harris totaled 114 catches for 2,015 yards and 15 scores with the Rebels. He missed five games last year with a groin issue but still led Ole Miss in catches and receiving yards. The only question is, was he better than Jaylin Noel at this spot? Time will tell. Grade: B+

How he fits

The Chargers went into this offseason with a very specific hole in their receiver room. McConkey’s breakout season was a boost for the offense. But he spent a majority of his time playing in the slot, where his route-running and quickness came alive. What the Chargers did not have was a big-bodied receiver who could play the X position, stretch the field vertically outside the numbers and threaten defenses in 50-50 ball situations. That is Harris’ strength.

He has the vertical leap and ball skills to win over the top of defenders, both down the field and in the red zone. Though he did not run a fast 40-yard dash, Harris showed on film that he can run past defensive backs when he has a head of steam. His skillset is a logical fit for the Chargers passing offense.

Depth-chart impact

The Chargers were willing to be aggressive in free agency to find a player to fill the X role in their offense. They pursued Davante Adams, who eventually signed with the Los Angeles Rams. They ended up reuniting with Mike Williams on a cheap one-year deal. Williams, who spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Chargers, is at his best in contested-catch situations down the field. He is also over 30. He is coming off perhaps his worst NFL season, which he spent with the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers. And he has a checkered injury history, including an ACL tear in 2023.

The Chargers needed to add another player in this mold because of the question marks surrounding Williams. And they now have a talented player who can grow in this role and develop with Justin Herbert for years to come.

They also could have picked …

The Chargers could have attacked the trenches with this pick. Georgia offensive lineman Tate Ratledge was on the board, and he would have been a potential plug-and-play starter at left guard. They also could have drafted an interior defensive lineman. They lost Poona Ford and Morgan Fox in free agency, their top two pressure-producers on the interior in 2024. They do not have an obvious interior pass-rush replacement on the roster currently. Darius Alexander out of Toledo was an intriguing prospect.

In the end, though, they bolstered the receiving room. They did not come out of free agency with an impact piece on the outside. And they were potentially going to lose out on an opportunity to find that type of player if they waited until pick No. 86 in the third round.

Fast evaluation

Harris’ strengths as a player are aligned with what the Chargers are lacking at receiver. With Williams, Harris and Quentin Johnston in the room, McConkey can continue to play predominantly in the slot. Harris will challenge defenses with his contested-catch ability. Harris will have to improve in a few areas to become a fully realized NFL difference-maker. He did not run a very diverse route tree at Ole Miss, spending most of his time running curls, gos and posts. He lacks some urgency as a player, both as a route-runner and blocker. And there are some concentration drops on his tape. He had 15 drops in his career. Still, he will be a dangerous downfield threat as a rookie while polishing the other areas of his game.

(Photo: Jonathan Bachman / Getty Images)

Jun 10, 2026

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