The Chargers stuck to their guns and drafted the best player available with the No. 22 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. That player was UNC running back Omarion Hampton, who will now split backfield duties alongside Najee Harris in 2025.
A polarizing pick at the time, Chargers fans are coming around to Hampton and the high ceiling he has in the NFL. Hampton has all the makings of being a true every-down back with his rare blend of size and athleticism. If Hampton reaches his ceiling, the Chargers very well may have just landed thier next franchise-great back.
The Chargers sent a strong message to the fanbase that the team will stick to its best player available mantra and also sent a message to two notable free agents as well. Taking Hampton with the No. 22 pick may have revealed the fate of Keenan Allen and J.K. Dobbins.
Chargers send clear message to Keenan Allen and J.K. Dobbins with Omarion Hamtpon pick
The message the Chargers sent to Allen and Dobbins with the Hampton pick is equally as powerful but couldn't be more different. For one player the Hampton pick as a good thing. For the other, it was a sign of the end.
Dobbins' tenure with the Chargers is undoubtedly over after the Hampton selection. The odds of him returning after the team signed Harris was already slim but the door was open if the Bolts didn't take a running back in the draft.
With Hampton on the roster and sophomore Kimani Vidal as the RB3, there is no room for Dobbins. This is unfortunate as Dobbins was productive when he was healthy last season. Hopefully, the former second-round pick can land somewhere after the NFL Draft.
The message to Allen couldn't be more different. Los Angeles had a decision to make between Hampton and wide receiver Matthew Golden with the No. 22 pick. While Hampton was the higher-ranked player on the Chargers' big board, Golden still has immense upside and very well could have been the pick if the Chargers were prioritizing a pass-catcher.
But he wasn't, and the Chargers didn't force a pick at wide receiver because the team may have more reinforcements on the way. An Allen homecoming has seemingly been in the cards for weeks with the team likely just waiting until after the 2025 NFL Draft.
The Hampton selection only confirms that theory. It also may lay the groundwork for the rest of the draft as the Chargers may not prioritize wide receiver if Allen is already on his way to the team.
Don't be surprised if the Chargers pass on more wide receivers in the 2025 NFL Draft only to reunite with Allen days after the draft ends. It also won't be surprising to see Dobbins sign with a running back-needy team that didn't land one in the NFL Draft.