The Chargers added some big-time juice to their offense Thursday night.
The Bolts selected North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, a move that gives the Chargers offense a top-tier weapon in the backfield.
Najee Harris will provide consistency and stability at running back in 2025 but he only signed a 1-year deal in free agency.
Hampton, the type of prospect who can potentially transform the offense with his skillset, is now a centerpiece of the future for the Bolts.
And his selection means Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and the front office felt that the running game, which languished at times in 2024, needed a boost.
Hampton, who is generally viewed as a Top-25 player in this year’s draft class, will bring that.
He was ranked No. 13 overall by Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network.
Hampton is a big, athletic back. 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.
Hampton was also the No. 14 prospect by ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr.
Here’s what Kiper said about the 6-foot and 221-pound Hampton:
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.
