When someone throws out the phrase 'anonymous NFL exec,' it's almost exclusively a bad thing. Said anonymous C-suiters love nothing more than talking to Jordan Schultz or Adam Schefter off the record about all their true convictions. It's a great and healthy system the NFL has going.
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There are always exceptions to the rule, however, and every once in a while one will pop up that almost makes up for a year's worth of nonsense. And how fun is it that this time – weirdly enough – the Chargers are benefiting from that? Maybe Jim Harbaugh is right – no one has it better than them.
And no one compiles random anonymous NFL executive quotes quite like The Athletic, so it should really come as no surprise to anyone that they're once again back with a new wave of mostly-tepid quotes about how everyone's first round pick was good. If you have the patience to scroll past hundreds of words about the Browns and the Jaguars, you'll get rewarded with maybe the best Chargers quote you'll hear for the next four months. It's going to be a long four months.
NFL execs absolutely loved the Chargers drafting UNC RB Omarion Hampton
"He’s a really good player, and he fits exactly what Harbaugh wants to be and helps the quarterback,” an exec said. "He’s like Frank Gore, but more dynamic" ... “Where they took Hampton was really good value, and it speaks to their identity,” another exec said. “They needed to add some dynamic components to that offense.”
I love the idea that he's already somehow more dynamic than a guy who rushed for, quite literally, 16,000 yards over a 16-year NFL career. His lowest season total was his rookie year, and rushed for over 1,000 yards in more than half the seasons he played in; he may not end up being a first ballot Hall of Famer, but he'll get there eventually. And the Chargers got someone more dynamic than that! Which means, I assume, that the Chargers just got a first ballot Hall of Famer. That *is* great value, random NFL exec. Perhaps I treated you too harshly.