The Chargers selected North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night.
Hampton is one of the top players at the running back position in this year's draft class and is NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah's No. 13 overall prospect.
Jeremiah offered the following breakdown of Hampton:
As a runner, he likes to press the hole early before deciding to stay inside or bounce out wide. He has enough speed to capture the corner when he gets to the perimeter. He's a loose runner and has make-you-miss ability in space. He has an impressive blend of power and balance on contact. His vision is a little inconsistent, though. He will occasionally run up the back of blockers. In the pass game, he's effective on angle routes, screens and shovels. He has strong, reliable hands. In pass pro, he is quick to sort and attack blitzers with a sharp, six-inch punch. Overall, Hampton has the size and tools to be an effective starter right away.
ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., also had the running back around the same range, slotting him in at 14th in his rankings.
Kiper added:
Hampton is a dependable rusher who can make defenders miss in the hole. And once he sees daylight, he's gone. He ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, and that is a solid time for a running back of his size. And he averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season and had 45 runs for 10 or more yards.
Hampton is also a reliable pass catcher out of the backfield and holds up well as a blocker when asked to pick up a pass rusher. In short, he's an impressive all-purpose performer.
The selection of Hampton gives the Chargers a dynamic offensive playmaker in the run game, and another ball carrier to pair alongside Najee Harris as well.
The 22-year-old Hampton is listed at 6-foot-0 and 221 pounds.
Hampton, a First-Team All-American in each of his final two seasons, surpassed the 1,500-yard rushing mark each of his last two seasons leading the North Carolina backfield.
He was also a two-time Doak Walker Award Finalist as the running back finished third on the Tar Heels all-time list in yards from scrimmage (4,200) and touchdowns (36).
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