Saturday marks the reporting date for rookies at the Chargers’ training camp. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Tre Harris is absent from the team, however. 
The wideout is one of 33 selections from the 2025 draft who have yet to sign their rookie contracts. 30 of them – including Harris – were second-round picks. A logjam is expected as all players taken in that round aim to secure fully guaranteed contracts.
First-round picks receive their four-year compensation in full, but until 2025 that was never the case for rookies selected on Day 2. New precedents were set earlier this offseason, however, when Jayden Higgins and the Texans agreed to a deal which is fully guaranteed. Higgins was selected 34th overall; one day later, No. 33 pick Carson Schwesinger received the same terms from the Browns. All other second-round picks have since waited to sign their respective deals while attempting to negotiate a pact which is fully locked in.
Throughout the spring, that resulted in a dearth of rookie deals being signed amongst those in a similar situation to Higgins and Schwesinger. Second-rounders are often the last to ink their pacts, but 2025 has seen this matter stretch well into the summer. Harris is now in position to miss on-field reps (veterans report on July 16) if his absence continues beyond the next few days. Since he is not under contract, though, he will not be subject to fines.
Harris was the 55th overall pick in April’s draft. The 23-year-old spent his first three college seasons at Louisiana Tech, showing improvement with each passing year. Harris then transferred to Ole Miss; during two campaigns with the Rebels, he amassed 2,015 yards and 15 touchdowns. Harris will be expected to play a role in Los Angeles’ receiver room, one led by Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and – for the second time around – Mike Williams. The departure of Josh Palmer in free agency created a void in terms of production at the WR spot, and Harris will be tasked with helping to fill it in 2025 while developing into a regular contributor down the road.
That process will of course depend in large part on padded practice reps during training camp. Harris is now in danger of missing time during camp, and it will be interesting to see if this move leads to increased urgency on the Chargers’ part to sign him. With other second-rounders set to face a similar scenario over the coming days, this could be a notable test case.
Don’t cry when you don’t see the field as much as you thought.
Somebody who hasn’t played a down in the NFL doesn’t deserve a guaranteed contract.
Why not? We’re talking about $11 million over four years. It’s a very low bar for him to provide surplus value and he isn’t even allowed to get a raise until after three years. Dyami Brown just got $10 million with 9.5 guaranteed for next year alone coming off a career best 308 yard season.
Get rid of the draft. Make it so NFL teams have to attract players no different than the free market. Teams would be forced to negotiate with players in good faith rather than from an imbalanced position of power because the players have no choice who drafts them and the contract structure built into their draft slot. Some players would be more willing to accept a non-guaranteed contract because they get to play for a team of their choice or live in a city of their preference. Some teams would be able to replenish their talent base much faster because they’re able to scoop up players with guaranteed contracts while other teams lose out on new talent because they want to be stingy with contract amounts and terms.