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Los Angeles Chargers Insider Names Identity Changing Rookie

Originally posted on LAFB Network | By Ryan Anderson | Last updated May 22, 2025 6:17 PM ET

Of all the Los Angeles Chargers’ 2025 draft picks, none may be more pivotal to the team’s success — or its offensive identity — than first-round running back Omarion Hampton. According to The Athletic‘s Daniel Popper, Hampton is the 12th most important player and the most important rookie who will ensure a successful 2025 season. But with Hampton, he went even further, naming him a player who can be identity-shaping.

“The Najee Harris signing felt like an attempt to raise the Chargers’ floor in the running game,” Popper wrote. “The Hampton pick in the first round felt like an attempt to raise the ceiling.”

Omarion Hampton Poised to Redefine Los Angeles Chargers Offense, Says Daniel Popper

Los Angeles Chargers Insider Names Identity Changing Rookie 1 Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Hampton arrives in Los Angeles with a dynamic profile built during his standout college career at North Carolina. A rare blend of power and speed, he racked up 1,504 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns in his final season with the Tar Heels, showcasing both home-run ability and between-the-tackles toughness. His acceleration through the hole and violent finishing style made him a nightmare for defenders at the second level — and a perfect fit for head coach Jim Harbaugh’s physical brand of football.

“If Hampton is the same type of player he was in college… he is a threat to score every time he touches the ball,” Popper added. “He pairs that explosiveness with a bruising physicality. Hampton could change the identity of the Chargers offense.”

The Chargers haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since 2019, and their run game ranked near the bottom of the league in both yards per attempt and explosive plays last season. Hampton’s upside as a three-down workhorse gives the team a legitimate chance to reverse those trends — and finally balance a Justin Herbert-led offense that’s long leaned too heavily on the passing game.

Simply put, Hampton might be the spark that ignites a new era in Los Angeles.

This article first appeared on LAFB Network and was syndicated with permission.

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