The Los Angeles Chargers were by in larger expected to take a pass catcher to add another explosive element to their offense after it fell completely flat against the Houston Texans. They did add explosivity, but for the offensive backfield — a truly Jim Harbaugh move.
With the 22nd pick, the Chargers selected Omarion Hampton, running back out of North Carolina.
Los Angeles Chargers Select Explosive RB
Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranked Hampton as the 2nd best running back and the 29th best prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft class, writing, “Hampton has only average creativity and is a tad tight in his hips and ankles, but he is a bruising runner with an effective blend of patience, power and speed. Given his reliability on passing downs, he is a complete player and should start as an NFL rookie.”
The Chargers chose Hampton over other positions of need. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell and wide receiver Matthew Golden were still on the board, as well as was defensive tackle Shemar Turner and edge rusher Mike Green.
The Los Angeles Chargers have reshaped their running back room, addressing availability concerns while adding a promising rookie. While J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards proved productive in their roles, particularly Dobbins, both veterans missed time due to injuries. Dobbins, returning from a sidelined 2023 season, posted a strong 2024 campaign with 1,058 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns. However, the team’s apparent emphasis on consistent availability influenced their offseason acquisitions.
This priority likely explains the Chargers’ addition of veteran running back Najee Harris. Despite never fully realizing his draft potential with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Harris has been remarkably reliable, exceeding 1,000 yards from scrimmage in each of his four seasons and maintaining a perfect attendance record in regular season games.
The Chargers now complement this veteran presence with dynamic rookie Omarion Hampton, who established himself during three seasons at North Carolina. Hampton followed a breakout 2023 season with an even more impressive 2024 campaign, amassing 2,033 yards from scrimmage and 17 touchdowns. His career-high 38 receptions last year suggest a strong pass-catching ability that should translate well to the NFL.
While the Chargers possess solid depth with Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal, potentially delaying Hampton’s immediate role, the rookie’s long-term upside surpasses that of his current depth chart competitors. Consequently, Hampton is well-positioned to become the team’s primary ball carrier by the end of the 2025 season.
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