Chargers rookie wide receiver Tre Harris ends his holdout, ready to compete for starting role.
Chargers wide receiver Tre Harris has signed his rookie deal, officially ending a brief holdout just as veterans report to training camp. The timing is notable, coinciding with veteran receiver Mike Williams’ surprise retirement.
Harris becomes the latest second-round pick to finalize his contract and steps into camp with a golden opportunity. He’s expected to compete for starting reps at X receiver, battling 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston. His presence could allow Johnston to shift into a more natural role as a flanker or big slot—alignments that better showcase his run-after-catch ability.
At 6’2”, 205 pounds, the 23-year-old Harris fits the Chargers’ mold at X: strong hands, body control, and toughness at the catch point. He has a realistic chance to finish second on the team in targets behind rookie standout Ladd McConkey. Still, in Greg Roman’s run-heavy offense, the overall passing volume—and fantasy value—of any Chargers wideout not named McConkey remains an open question.
Author: Pat Mitchell(@PatMitchellFF)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston (head) ...
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston had ...
The Athletic's Daniel Popper doesn't think the Los Angeles ...
The Los Angeles Chargers have placed veteran Wide Receiver Mike Williams on the PUP List.
Mike Williams has been added to the PUP List by the Chargers. Williams signed a one-year contract worth up to $6 million during free agency to reunite with the team he has been part of for the majority of his career. The news does not mean Williams will miss games, but it has opened up a window for rookie WR Tre Harris or Quentin Johnston to grab an opportunity at being the team’s WR2 behind Ladd McConkey.
Williams was known for his field stretching and contested catch ability, while Keenan Allen occupied the slot in what was a highly dynamic Chargers offense. Last season, we saw Rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey break out and become the alpha for the Chargers. Now, can we see Tre Harris emerge as a big-bodied target to work in tandem with Ladd, or does Quentin Johnston show any sign of life and become what the Chargers envisioned when he was selected 23rd overall in the 2023 NFL Draft?
Harris is currently a holdout over a disagreement over guaranteed money. Now, the Mike Williams designation gives Quentin Johnston the early leg up on valuable reps and building chemistry with quarterback Justin Herbert.
Author: Dane Madoche(@FF_DaMaddog)
Wide Receiver Tre Harris’ Holdout Highlights Broader Second-Round Contract Standoff.
The Chargers became the first NFL team to open training camp this weekend, with rookies scheduled to report – but second-round pick Tre Harris was notably absent. Selected 55th overall, Harris has yet to sign his rookie contract, part of a broader standoff affecting the entire second round. Just two of the 32 second-rounders have signed deals so far, and both contracts were fully guaranteed – marking a significant shift under the rookie wage scale established by the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. It’s now believed that all unsigned second-round picks are seeking fully guaranteed deals, a precedent that could reshape rookie contracts going forward.
While the holdup isn’t exclusive to Harris, his absence could have an impact on the Chargers’ depth chart. With the rookie sidelined, 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston – still just 23, and entering his third season – now has a clearer path to retaining a starting role.
This also opens up opportunity for Mike Williams, who rejoined the team on a modest one-year, $3 million deal. Now 31, Williams will need to prove he still has something left in the tank after a disappointing 2024 campaign in which he totaled just 298 yards. This receiver room remains wide open – and for now, one of its key additions is missing.
Author: Pat Mitchell(@PatMitchellFF)
Former First-Round Pick Quentin Johnston is Facing Depth Chart Pressure.
According to the Athletic’s Daniel Popper, Quentin Johnston may be in danger of losing his starting role in the Chargers offense. The team added second-round rookie Tre Harris and brought back veteran Mike Williams – a longtime favorite of Justin Herbert – creating real competition behind rookie standout Ladd McConkey.
Johnston showed flashes in Year 2, but his late-season struggles were hard to ignore. He had multiple key drops in a week 12 loss to Baltimore and went catchless on five targets in the Chargers’ Wild Card loss to Houston. With no ties to the current regime – who arrived a year after he was drafted – Johnston isn’t likely to benefit from any built-in loyalty as training camp battles unfold.
There are still reasons for optimism. Johnston led the Chargers in receiving touchdowns (8) and red zone targets (12), and ranked second among qualified wide receivers in evasion rate. A more specialized role – perhaps as a flanker or big slot – could better suit his after-the-catch ability and limit exposure to contested catch situations. This wide receiver room will be one of the more intriguing battles to monitor in camp.
Author: Pat Mitchell (@PatMitchellFF)
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh had high praise for Chargers rookie wideout Tre Harris after Friday’s minicamp session.
The Chargers took Tre Harris with the 55th overall pick in the second round of April’s draft. Harris (23) played his final two seasons with Ole Miss after transferring from Louisiana Tech. He averaged 57 catches, 1,007 yards, and 7.5 touchdowns during those final two years while catching passes from Jaxson Dart.
“Strength, toughness, route running ability, production, all those things. He does them all at a high level. I think he’s going to be an outstanding pro.”
The Chargers seem like a good fit for Harris, and Harbaugh’s comments further propel his hype train going into 2025. There’s a clear path to targets. The team has a glaring need for an outside threat, with Ladd McConkey playing just under 2/3 of his snaps from the slot and being their only current quality receiver.
At 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Harris was dominant on the outside in 2024 for the Rebels and showed excellent skill at the catch point, outworking defenders with his body to bring down tough catches. He’ll face some competition from former first-rounder Quentin Johnston. However, Johnston’s history with drops and inconsistent play allows Harris the chance to prove he belongs in two-receiver sets to start the season. Right now, fantasy managers could make an argument to take Harris as the second receiver off the board in rookie drafts, behind Tet McMillan.
Author: Blake Stachel (@bllakkay)
LA Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has high praise for maligned WR Quentin Johnston.
NFL training camps are underway and the “coach speak” is flying! LA Chargers new Head Coach is practiced in the art. He gave high praise to wide receiver Quentin Johnston who is entering year two after a disappointing rookie season. “(He’s) one of our top guys right now…he’s gonna be a problem.”
Johnston played in all 17 games in his rookie season and playing in a high volume Kellen Moore offense with strong-armed quarterback Justin Herbert was supposed to result in a big year. The expectations for the first-round pick fell short posting just 431 yards and 2 touchdowns on 38 catches. Looking deeper, the numbers are more frightening as QJ ranked 85th in separation and 91st in cushion, resulting in a route win rate ranking of 129. 5.5 PPR points per game does not create fantasy championships, and going into the 2024 season, Johnston has a current Underdog ADP of 155 and is ranked as WR74 by Player Profiler.
Johnston will have to work to separate himself (a thing he couldn’t do against defenses, apparently) in a WR room that lost Mike Williams and Keenan Allen, but now boasts Joshua Palmer and highly regarded route-running machine Ladd McConkey. Rookie Brenden Rice and veterans Derius Davis and DJ Chark will compete for targets as well. There doesn’t seem to be a path to success for Johnston in a run-heavy Harbaugh/Roman offense and he will land on most “Do Not Draft” lists in fantasy this season.
