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The Chargers ran down the clock on their first-round selection, but the delay shouldn’t be interpreted as doubt.
The choice of Omarion Hampton was unanimous.
The Chargers took the former North Carolina running back with the 22nd pick in the NFL draft on Thursday, adding another weapon to an offense that is hoping to solidify its reputation for physicality in coach Jim Harbaugh’s second season.
“This is not something that was ever split on Mr. Hampton,” Harbaugh said. “He’s there at 22, that’s somebody we’re fired up to get.”
As expected, Miami quarterback Cam Ward was the first pick of the 2025 NFL draft, but Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders was not selected in the first round.
Hampton wowed Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz and the team’s scouts for years. The two-time finalist for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation’s top running back, rushed for 1,660 yards and 15 touchdowns last season, a stellar encore to his breakout sophomore year.
The 6-foot, 220-pound back had 1,504 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns in 2023 when he was the complementary piece to quarterback and future No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. While scouting Maye, Hortiz couldn’t help notice the running back who lowered his shoulder through defenders at the second level, burst through open lanes with breakaway speed and made would-be tacklers miss.
“We just said, ‘Wow, this is a heck of a back,’ ” Hortiz said. “Just getting to watch him do it again this year, two years of production, durability, high character, work ethic off the charts. … All the way he gets checks all across the board.”
In their first year with Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Chargers ranked 17th in the NFL with 110.7 yards rushing per game. Averaging 4.1 yards per carry, it was the least efficient rushing offense in Roman’s NFL career.
Hampton, who averaged 5.9 yards per rush in both his sophomore and junior seasons, met with the Chargers early in the draft process but noticed that the team later faded into the background. Through the stream of calls and meetings with personnel from across the league, Hampton held on to the sense of peace he felt around the Chargers. The organization was building in a positive direction and exuded the right vibe that made it easy for him to imagine playing in the powder blue and gold.
“Great O-line in place, great running back, great quarterback,” Hampton said during a videoconference Thursday, “and I feel like they’re ready to take the next step and win the Super Bowl.”
The Chargers didn’t waste time welcoming Hampton, splashing a “Welcome to Los Angeles” graphic Thursday night on the massive LED screens in the lobby of the facility in El Segundo. By the time Hampton arrived Friday morning, the photo of him running had been updated with a photoshopped jersey swap.
Out with the Carolina blue. In with the Chargers powder blue.
It’s a sight Hampton could get used to.
“I’m ready to get back out there to the field,” Hampton said at his first press conference, which drew dozens of Chargers staff members including Hortiz and Harbaugh and owner Dean Spanos.
Hampton said he prides himself on going “110%” every practice. Harbaugh looked on with a proud smile.
Hampton was the second running back picked in the first round following Boise State star Ashton Jeanty, who went sixth to the Las Vegas Raiders. The Chargers, who own nine more picks in this draft, including the 55th and 86th picks, fielded several trade calls when they were on the clock, Hortiz said. While the organization decided this week that it would take Hampton if he was available at No. 22, Hortiz still wanted to listen to offers.
Tight end Tyler Conklin and offensive lineman Mekhi Becton believe they can help improve the Chargers’ offensive fortunes alongside quarterback Justin Herbert.
Hampton will join a thin backfield led by former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, who signed as a free agent last month. Harris is known for his consistency and durability with more than 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons without missing a game. But he doesn’t have a carry longer than 37 yards in his NFL career, and his longest rush at Alabama was 53 yards as a senior.
Hampton could add a fast-paced change-up. He had two games with rushes longer than 70 yards last year, including a career-best 75-yard touchdown run against North Carolina State.
“They’ll be a great one-two punch,” Hortiz said. “He’s physical, runs hard, fast. He brings that same type of mentality that Najee brings as a runner.”
More than 200,000 fans attended the first round of the NFL draft outside Lambeau Field, but none of them heard Shedeur Sanders’ name called.
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