The Los Angeles Chargers took every precious second off of the clock in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft before settling on North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton.
He fits what Jim Harbaugh likes to do perfectly, but it’s a bit ironic that he ended up with the Chargers as a large portion of the mock drafts that have been published in the last two weeks or so had the Denver Broncos selecting Hampton. Mel Kiper Jr. of ESPN referenced that when discussing why he loved the Chargers taking Hampton.
I thought Hampton would be a Bronco. Denver’s run game was missing a punch, and Hampton would have helped Bo Nix take the next step by taking some pressure off him. Instead, he goes two picks later to a division rival! Denver might have some regret in short order. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football, and he now has a really good duo in Hampton and Najee Harris. Hampton runs through contact, has breakaway speed and can catch the ball out of the backfield.
I don’t love first-round running backs. And this is a deep class at the position. But I think about Los Angeles’ identity on offense, and this just makes sense. Hampton is my 14th-ranked prospect, which means there actually is some value despite the position”, wrote Kiper.
The Chargers can now attack the Broncos, who they beat twice last season, with a player many felt was going to play for them.
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For the Chargers, many may see this pick as a bit questionable since the team just gave Najee Harris a $9.5 million, one-year deal in free agency. But behind Harris, the Chargers were pretty weak at running back and Hampton fills that space nicely, giving the Chargers a legitimate one-two punch that could give Harbaugh exactly the kind of identity he is looking for on offense.
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