The Los Angeles Chargers were the first team in the league to have rookies report for training camp, welcoming the new class of players on Saturday. The team will play in the preseason Hall of Fame game on July 31, which is the reason camp is kicking off earlier than usual.
But second-round pick Tre Harris, a wide receiver out of Ole Miss, was not part of that group. He remains without a contract.
Many rookies are refraining from signing their deals this year as the amount of guaranteed money in the contracts seems to be the main cause for the holdup. The young players are looking for more guaranteed money than has been typically doled out in the past.
Harris becomes the first official rookie holdout, but according to NFL Trade Rumors, there are still 30 players who have yet to sign their first-round deals. Jahdae Barron of the Denver Broncos and Shemar Stewart of the Cincinnati Bengals join that list as first-round picks who have yet to sign.
The Chargers will be counting on Harris to play a big role as a rookie and perhaps even assume the No. 2 wide receiver role behind Ladd McConkey. Mike Williams and Quentin Johnston are on the roster, but Harris would not have been taken in the second round if the team fully trusted either of them.
It will be imperative for the Chargers to get a deal done with Harris soon. He will lose valuable reps each day he is absent from practice, which could stunt his growth in year one.
What we're not gonna do right now is attack Tre Harris' character while 29 other draft picks are headed for the same issue.
Tested at the combine with an injury. The Chargers took him (character stamp of approval). I only heard A+ background work. He took the last bus home… pic.twitter.com/CEnLixqLnw
With rookies already at the facility, the Chargers will have veteran players report on Wednesday. They will then face the Detroit Lions in the annual Hall of Fame Game two weeks after that. Time is of the essence for Harris, so hopefully, the two sides come to an agreement soon.
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