The Los Angeles Chargers put together a strong rookie class for the 2025 season, but when you ask fans who will be the best rookie for the team this season, almost everyone is going to answer Omarion Hampton.
Fans are excited about the team's first-round pick as Hampton was the first running back the team has selected in the first round since Melvin Gordon in 2015. Matt Holder of Bleacher Report feels that Hampton will take the starting job from Najee Harris before the season starts.
Still, Daniel Flick of Sports Illustrated feels that the best rookie for the team this season will be the player the Chargers selected in the second round, wide receiver Tre Harris.
"The Chargers struck gold with a second-round receiver in 2024, as Ladd McConkey ranked 10th in the NFL with 1,149 receiving yards. While it’s unfair to place such expectations on the 6' 2", 205-pound Harris, the former Ole Miss pass catcher has the size, speed and instincts to be a productive rookie. With Los Angeles needing complementary targets around McConkey, Harris should get plenty of opportunities to impact games this fall", wrote Flick.
It's not a bad train of thought. Harris could easily be the team's No. 2 wide receiver to open the season if he can surpass Quentin Johnston and Mike Williams on the depth chart. In the minds of many, that won't take much. With Ladd McConkey drawing extra attention in year two, it could open things up for Harris to become one of Justin Herbert's most frequented targets.
For what it's worth, here is how Mike Clay of ESPN projected the rookie seasons of Hampton and Harris to go.
Omarion Hampton: 215 carries, 961 yards, 9 TDs, 39 receptions, 282 yards, 2 TDs
Tre Harris: 49 receptions, 642 yards, 4 TDs
Those numbers would favor Hampton having the more impactful rookie season, and most fans would choose him if this question were posed to them, but Harris is capable of having a huge year as well.
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