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

[northerner]

Charger draft room sure looked subdued ... I would guess their guys were just picked.

A solid pick .... the offense was stagnant when dobbins went down - so now they can focus elsewhere.
Wish he was a better compliment to Najee: not thrilled about him as a receiving option.

Since Harris will be gone soon, a good pick .... buts proof.

i meant more alarms/adjustments on the draft board than a celebration. i don't know why it looked so chill in the draft room.

[Formula 21]

I was pissed when Pitt took Harmon, the last DT on my cluster, but this is the draft. You pick from the available players. And Hampton was the last player in my Top 5 plus one cluster. So I’m good. We are a running team so we need the best runners we can get.

Now get me an OG today please.

[Factotum]

This 2025 Draft was generally a trade-down draft, meaning that despite the lack of true generational players it was still loaded with very good and NFL ready college players. Every FO knew this so no one was really prepared to give up a lot to trade up specially in that bottom third cluster of the draft were we were at #22.

Now let's put it this way, had Denver drafted OH with Jeanty already to the Raiders, over 50% of our patrons in here would have been running scared before one darn game day snap of the football! If these two RBs were with our division foes and if we had not ended up with a coveted DT at our #22, those trepidations could have well been very legitimate!

Cut a long story, long: Welcome Omarion Hampton

[Formula 21]

i meant more alarms/adjustments on the draft board than a celebration. i don't know why it looked so chill in the draft room.

I think they wanted a trade down that included someone’s #1 from next year and didn’t get it. I think that was their #1 desire in this draft.

[Steve]

You may have a point, his average depth of reception was -1.5. However, he averaged 9.8 yards gained per reception. Average gain for an NFL RB was 7.59 (can't find depth). I think you're being a little debbie downerish here. Even JH and JO mentioned the number of receptions as a plus in post draft interviews. I think they are confident his pass passing skills will translate to the NFL.

Btw, he's noted as being excellent at pass pro.

I'm not saying he can't be a receiver, just that he hasn't done it yet.

Again, his highlights are full of him taking shuffle passes for longish gains. If you see the OL blocking like a running play and consider it a dropback pass fine. But most football teams consider that part of their running game (because of the blocking).

Again, they may also be confident in this skills because we don't rely on their skils because it is simply a last option. Roman only rarely uses a RB for anything but a checkdown. It takes little or no skill, so they don't need much from him in that area.

As far as pass protection, I never pay attention to what college RB do. There have been plenty of players who are good college pass protectors who have gone on to be bad. NFL defenses are lot more complicated, the players are bigger, stronger faster and simply better. And NFL offenses use a much larger variety of protections.

Blind faith is not always a good quality, even in loyal fans.

[northerner]

I think they wanted a trade down that included someone’s #1 from next year and didn’t get it. I think that was their #1 desire in this draft.

I don't know, hoping to fleece someone with a trade down is more of a windfall - it can't be a focal point or strategy. especially with the 22nd pick.

if they wanted a parade (high draft grade), all they had to do was draft Golden, so i figure that they really liked Hampton.

[Duck of Death]

I'm not saying he can't be a receiver, just that he hasn't done it yet.

Again, his highlights are full of him taking shuffle passes for longish gains. If you see the OL blocking like a running play and consider it a dropback pass fine. But most football teams consider that part of their running game (because of the blocking).

Again, they may also be confident in this skills because we don't rely on their skils because it is simply a last option. Roman only rarely uses a RB for anything but a checkdown. It takes little or no skill, so they don't need much from him in that area.

As far as pass protection, I never pay attention to what college RB do. There have been plenty of players who are good college pass protectors who have gone on to be bad. NFL defenses are lot more complicated, the players are bigger, stronger faster and simply better. And NFL offenses use a much larger variety of protections.

Blind faith is not always a good quality, even in loyal fans.

Respectfully disagree. If there’s any place where blind faith is warranted, it’s in the world of sports fandom. Ain’t like we’re solving the world’s problems in here. I for one, am excited at the prospects of finally having a legit dangerous running game. Cuz we ain’t had one since Madonna was a virgin. It’s ok, jump in brotha, the waters warm!

[northerner]

I'm not saying he can't be a receiver, just that he hasn't done it yet.

Again, his highlights are full of him taking shuffle passes for longish gains. If you see the OL blocking like a running play and consider it a dropback pass fine. But most football teams consider that part of their running game (because of the blocking).

Again, they may also be confident in this skills because we don't rely on their skils because it is simply a last option. Roman only rarely uses a RB for anything but a checkdown. It takes little or no skill, so they don't need much from him in that area.

As far as pass protection, I never pay attention to what college RB do. There have been plenty of players who are good college pass protectors who have gone on to be bad. NFL defenses are lot more complicated, the players are bigger, stronger faster and simply better. And NFL offenses use a much larger variety of protections.

Blind faith is not always a good quality, even in loyal fans.

good point on the shuffle pass highlights. shuffle passes and check down passes are all a RB really needs. Ekeler made a career out of check down receptions.

a great third down RB can block a blitzer and then go out for a check down pass.

[Ghost of Quacksaw]

There are several very positive draft reviews about this pick for the Chargers and how he will improve our offensive play.

I'm hearing reputable mediots compare him with Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon.

[Eurobolt]

When did they try to trade down?

We know for sure that Eagles put an offer but was not good enough, probably more teams tried but we will never know what was on the table.

[electricgold]

I'm hearing reputable mediots compare him with Josh Jacobs and Joe Mixon.

Well he needs to be at their level because Jacobs was drafted 24th and Mixon was drafted 48th!

[ChargerTrader]

Well he needs to be at their level because Jacobs was drafted 24th and Mixon was drafted 48th!

Mixon would have gone much higher, but his off-field incident that was caught on video made him drop. Talent was not the concern.