Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (R1, Pick 22)

[Boltx]

Atlanta picked Bijan at 7....id have done that as well. Love is also going to go early. Owners tried to devalue RBs, only to realize they once again dont know shit lol

Bijan is truly special tho. Love might be, too.

For every Tomlinson, there are like 50 more Ryan Mathews and Melvin Gordons picked.

[Boltx]

Interesting data, Rich. When I was growing up (in the 1860s) teams really did not have RB by committee. They had workhorses and most of them never left the field, even on third down (Payton --Walter missed ONE game in his career, Franco Harris, Chuck Foreman, Tony Dorsett, Campbell, and even the non elite RBs like Lawrence McCutcheon, Sam the Bam Cunningham played a lot in the more distant past). And it was pretty rare for the workhorse to get injured or miss time or games. I wonder what is driving the difference now? Is it practice or training or the size and speed of players or the playing surfaces or what? And it was like this when they played 14 games and it was like this when they first started the 16 game seasons. Would be neat to dig into it. I did find that the avg games missed per modern NFL RB per season is 3.3 right now.

I think it's pretty clear - 300+ carries (and 350-400 touches!!?) a year is insanity on a RB's body in this day and age. Very clear dropoff the next year. Some can pull it off, but it's very taxing on their bodies.

No shame in a truly talented RB committee - the more weapons the merrier.

[dmac_bolt]

elite players are better than average players. call me silly but its better to put the ball in an elite player's hands. Is that the biggest improvement a team can make - thats a great debate. If no one on your team can run block, an elite RB won't be successful - sure. Gotta build a foundation. But are better RBs better - fuck yeah they are better.

Damn its like folk don't remember what LT did on the field or something. muh committee ... lol. Committees are for teams that don't have a true superior leader.

[Riverwalk]

elite players are better than average players. call me silly but its better to put the ball in an elite player's hands. Is that the biggest improvement a team can make - thats a great debate. If no one on your team can run block, an elite RB won't be successful - sure. Gotta build a foundation. But are better RBs better - fuck yeah they are better.

Damn it’s like folk don't remember what LT did on the field or something. muh committee ... lol. Committees are for teams that don't have a true superior leader.

Oh contraire….Folks do remember LT. Especially the Chargers front office who have tried this first round LT replacement 3 times with resounding failure thus far.

BIP, Hairball, and Omarion.

Should have stuck to committee and used these picks in the trenches.

Some would even say, an UDFA, Austin Ekeler, has been the best RB since LT. He has the most combined yardage of any back since LT. How does that strike you?

[Riverwalk]

Here’s reason number 5 for not drafting a RB in the first round.

Will Anderson, DE, signed a $50M per year contract with Houston.

That’s 2.5 times the highest paid running back in the entire NFL.

I submit that as further proof how idiotic it is to shoot your wad on a RB in the first round.

[dmac_bolt]

Oh contraire….Folks do remember LT. Especially the Chargers front office who have tried this first round LT replacement 3 times with resounding failure thus far.

BIP, Hairball, and Omarion.

Should have stuck to committee and used these picks in the trenches.

Some would even say, an UDFA, Austin Ekeler, has been the best RB since LT. He has the most combined yardage of any back since LT. How does that strike you?

you can cherry pick until you've made pies for everyone. The loooooong list of JAG and Bust day 3 RBs that the Chargers have taken while following your "RB doesnt matter" model is missing from your careful research, good brother. The number obliterates your scant list of Rd1 picks. Any proposition that your best chance to succeed is to seek out UDFAs is not an intelligent strategy. Our best TE ever was a UDFA too - so never draft a TE either?

2025 Rushing leaders
Cook - Rd2
Henry - Rd2
Talor - Rd2
Robinson - Rd1
Achane - Rd3
K Williams - Rd5
Gibbs - Rd1
McCaffrey - Rd1
J Williams - Rd2
Barkley - Rd1
T Etienne - Rd1
Swift - Rd2
Pollard - Rd4
Dowdle - UDFA
Hall - Rd2
Walker - Rd4
-------------------

#Picks per Round Summary:
Rd1 = 5
Rd2 = 6
Rd3 = 1
Rd4 = 2
Rd5 = 1
Rd6 = 0
Rd7 = 0
UDFA = 1

Data is clear - RB taken in the first 2 rounds are most likely to be successful. you are a horrible data analyst - you literally never look at all data and try to form unbiased conclusions. you always do just what you did here - cherry pick a couple examples to support what you already decided. I can tell you are intelligent - hence I have to assume this is intentional.

BIP, MG Ultra, and Hampton do not belong in the same sentence. BIP and MG were both desperation over-reaches and their results are fully documented for history. OH is not considered an over-reach nor a desperation move by most, and his results have not even been recorded. But thanks for demonstrating your issue is not simply RB in round one but Hampton in particular - which is what your snide comments have continuously implied.

I fully buy into the value-importance to draft picks - I'm promoted that principle more than anyone on TPB. Do you know what the odds of drafting a dominating disrupting DT are, by chance? Please share ...

[sonorajim]

Here’s reason number 5 for not drafting a RB in the first round.

Will Anderson, DE, signed a $50M per year contract with Houston.

That’s 2.5 times the highest paid running back in the entire NFL.

I submit that as further proof how idiotic it is to shoot your wad on a RB in the first round.

Winning a SB is the primary goal, not saving money. IF (big IF) Omarion lives up to expectations, we'll control the ball on offense. Give the D plenty of breaks. Create lots of space for Herbert and his receivers to work. McDaniel will have a great set of tools.

[Riverwalk]

I fully buy into the value-importance to draft picks - I'm promoted that principle more than anyone on TPB.

Do you know what the odds of drafting a dominating disrupting DT are, by chance? Please share ...

You put up a big fuss to finally agree with me.

The odds of drafting a dominating, disruptive DT couldn’t have been any worse than our RB failures.

And nowhere did I say RB isn’t important. Subscribing to a committee approach doesn’t devalue the position in any way, shape, or form.

[richpjr]

People are overthinking roster building and where players are drafted. There are plenty of busts and home runs from drafted players, UDFA and veteran free agents. It makes zero difference where they come from as long as enough pan out on our coaching staff running our schemes.

[CanadianBoltFan]

you can cherry pick until you've made pies for everyone. The loooooong list of JAG and Bust day 3 RBs that the Chargers have taken while following your "RB doesnt matter" model is missing from your careful research, good brother. The number obliterates your scant list of Rd1 picks. Any proposition that your best chance to succeed is to seek out UDFAs is not an intelligent strategy. Our best TE ever was a UDFA too - so never draft a TE either?

2025 Rushing leaders
Cook - Rd2
Henry - Rd2
Talor - Rd2
Robinson - Rd1
Achane - Rd3
K Williams - Rd5
Gibbs - Rd1
McCaffrey - Rd1
J Williams - Rd2
Barkley - Rd1
T Etienne - Rd1
Swift - Rd2
Pollard - Rd4
Dowdle - UDFA
Hall - Rd2
Walker - Rd4
-------------------

#Picks per Round Summary:
Rd1 = 5
Rd2 = 6
Rd3 = 1
Rd4 = 2
Rd5 = 1
Rd6 = 0
Rd7 = 0
UDFA = 1

Data is clear - RB taken in the first 2 rounds are most likely to be successful. you are a horrible data analyst - you literally never look at all data and try to form unbiased conclusions. you always do just what you did here - cherry pick a couple examples to support what you already decided. I can tell you are intelligent - hence I have to assume this is intentional.

BIP, MG Ultra, and Hampton do not belong in the same sentence. BIP and MG were both desperation over-reaches and their results are fully documented for history. OH is not considered an over-reach nor a desperation move by most, and his results have not even been recorded. But thanks for demonstrating your issue is not simply RB in round one but Hampton in particular - which is what your snide comments have continuously implied.

I fully buy into the value-importance to draft picks - I'm promoted that principle more than anyone on TPB. Do you know what the odds of drafting a dominating disrupting DT are, by chance? Please share ...

Well done

Backing with numbers

Besides....when Hampton is fully healthy and rumbling in a real offence i think we will all enjoy having this beast and no longer give a shit about rehashing the 2025 draft.

Drafting is the least of our issues with Hortiz

[dmac_bolt]

You put up a big fuss to finally agree with me.

The odds of drafting a dominating, disruptive DT couldn’t have been any worse than our RB failures.

And nowhere did I say RB isn’t important. Subscribing to a committee approach doesn’t devalue the position in any way, shape, or form.

That is one part of my 3-part equation, the two other primary factors are BPA and PON. #2 - Hampton was a consensus contender for BPA when we picked. #3 - the Chargers apparently felt a runner like him was a need. There's a fourth factor which I'm not smart enough to apply as its 3D chess - that is the draft depth by position and the possibility of drafting that position need later in the draft and amount of a drop off in talent that later pick is likely to be. A team may take one position over another or take a player "early" if they fear a large drop off at that position in later rounds and they have a critical need. Most common example of this is the QB position.

The odds of drafting superior players goes down each round - that applies to DTs and RBs alike. The list of 2025 Top RBs proves it. The entire premise of RB by Committee is you do not need an elite RB. so to swat down your new strawman - I didn't say you said an RB isn't important, I am saying you believe they don't need an elite RB. that is the point of RB By Committee.

you don't know the odds of drafting a dominant DT - thank you for confirming. How many great DTs have the Chargers drafted in the last 27 years? Our last great DT was Jamal Williams - he was drafted in the 1998 supplemental. LT was drafted in 2001. One of them is in the HOF.

[dmac_bolt]

Well done

Backing with numbers

Besides....when Hampton is fully healthy and rumbling in a real offence i think we will all enjoy having this beast and no longer give a shit about rehashing the 2025 draft.

Drafting is the least of our issues with Hortiz

Data says you might get a top RB in Rd2 if you didn't get him in Rd1. i'd note most of those Rd2 picks were earlier than our 55 or whatever it was last year so we'd have to ... gasp ... trade up for a RB .

I think Hampton is going to be a superior RB for us. If he's not, then Rivers was "proven" right (by luck).