Harris' career in Pittsburgh didn't turn out as envisioned when they selected him in the first round out of Alabama in 2021, because the big-play ability he showed in college never materialized in the NFL. Harris is a very smart player who will likely win approval in any locker room, including his new one with the Chargers, but at this point it's clear that Harris can't offer much more than volume from scrimmage, more or less taking what the defense gives him. Despite his big build Harris doesn't actually run with much power - he can set anchor and hold ground, but running over or around defenders is a rather rare occurrence for him. Signed on a one-year but fully guaranteed $5.25 million contract, Harris' ability to eat innings has an obvious enough use for a Chargers offense that endeavors to be as run-heavy as any in the league. The selection of first-round pick Omarion Hampton might have preempted Harris' main appeal, however - Hampton is built for big volume in his own right, and unlike Harris there's a big-play threat when Hampton and his 4.46 speed are on the field. The Chargers would like to be dominant enough that there's hefty workloads for both Hampton and Harris, but there's no question that when the Chargers need a crucial play it's Hampton who has the most ability to see to it. We might see Hampton's usage trend toward high-leverage situations and Harris toward low-leverage ones.
