On Monday, the Chargers officially announced the signing of first-round pick RB Omarion Hampton. A few hours earlier, the terms of the deal were reported by FOX's Jordan Schultz. With Hampton officially signed, one rookie is left standing without a deal: wideout Tre Harris.
Hampton receives a $9.56M signing bonus with $17.77 million for the four-year duration of the contract. As with all first-round selections, Los Angeles also holds a club fifth-year option on the contract.
The signing comes after the Chargers signed seven members of their draft class during rookie minicamp. Hampton joins DT Jamaree Caldwell, EDGE Kyle Kennard, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, TE Oronde Gadsden II, OG Branson Taylor, S R.J. Mickens, and DB Trikweze Bridges in the group of Chargers' rookies officially under contract.
A similar scenario took place last season when wide receiver Ladd McConkey signed his contract about a week after first-round selection Joe Alt in June.
Second-round picks around the league have been signing later on average in recent years as they fight for certain contract language and guarantees. The Texans agreed to a deal with Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins that gave him the first guaranteed second-round pick contract in NFL history.
Ultimately, Harris will almost certainly sign before training camp as the Chargers get deeper into their offseason schedule. It's simply a matter of when. But the Chargers signing Hampton even earlier than they signed Alt last offseason bodes well for the organization on the whole.
Hampton and Harris both participated in rookie minicamp earlier this month despite not having their contracts finished. Both players appeared as the Chargers' representatives at the NFLPA Rookie Premier photoshoot in conjunction with Panini.
The next scheduled practices for the entire rookie class and the rest of the roster will take place when OTAs are underway next week on May 27th and 28th.
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