The 2025 NFL Draft is just months away, and UNC’s Omarion Hampton will undoubtedly hear his name called on Day 1 or early Day 2 of the big event. While there is only one Ashton Jeanty, Hampton would have probably been the top running back in last year’s class.
Following a breakout 2023, Hampton became UNC’s entire offense in 2024 after star quarterback Drake Maye declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. The Junior was up for the challenge, finishing the season with 281 attempts for 1,660 yards while adding another 38 receptions for 373 yards. The raw numbers don’t tell the full story, as Hampton had to fight for every last yard behind an atrocious offensive line. The running back forced 67 missed tackles and 1,222 yards after contact, absurd numbers that eclipse previous great prospects like Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs.
While UNC didn’t face the league’s most dominant schedule, there is no denying that Omarion Hampton is one of the best dual-threat running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley leading the running back re-emergence, several teams will fight for the 6′-1″, 220-pound back, but these five are the best fits.
5 Teams That Should Draft UNC’s Omarion Hampton
Los Angeles Chargers (22nd Overall)
This is a match made in heaven. Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football, but they don’t have a true three-down back capable of executing the former Michigan’s champions vision. J.K. Dobbins played well when healthy last year, but the former Raven continued to battle injuries. Omarion Hampton is a true three-down back whose physical running meshes perfectly with Harbaugh’s old-school mentality, and his soft hands ensure he can be on the field on all three downs.
Denver Broncos (20th Overall)
This is probably the earliest Omarion Hampton could go in the NFL Draft. During his time with the New Orleans Saints, head coach Sean Payton always found ways to get production out of his running backs. That ability hasn’t transferred to Denver, as Javonte Williams never truly recovered from his 2022 knee injury. Payton has his quarterback of the future in 2024 first-round pick Bo Nix, so now it’s time to find his running back of the future. Hampton is a similar prospect to former Payton first-round pick Mark Ingram, so perhaps the coach uses the team’s first-round pick on the UNC product.
Kansas City Chiefs (32nd Overall)
The Kansas City Chiefs will likely draft a running back, and Omarion Hampton could be unstoppable in this offense. Dating back to his days in Philadelphia, Andy Reid has historically preferred to have one workhorse back running his offense. That hasn’t happened the past few years, as Clyde Edwards-Helaire was a bust and Isiah Pacheco isn’t much of a threat in the receiving game. Omarion Hampton has a three-down skillset, and pairing a physical runner like him with Patrick Mahomes and an elite interior offensive line will keep defensive coordinators up at night.
Las Vegas Raiders (37th Overall)
The Las Vegas Raiders have holes throughout the roster, but don’t be surprised if they use an early draft pick on a running back like Omarion Hampton. Pete Carroll lives and dies with the rushing attack, and the longtime Seahawks coach will likely try to find his next Marshawn Lynch in this stacked running back class. Assuming they don’t select Ashton Jeanty in the first round, Hampton would be a perfect pick who could lead this backfield for the remainder of Carroll’s coaching career.
New Orleans Saints (40th Overall)
The Saints extended Alvin Kamara last year, but that shouldn’t stop them from selecting someone like Omarion Hampton in the NFL Draft. Kamara is at his best when he has a backfield partner to be the thunder to his lightning, but that hasn’t happened in years. While Kendre Miller showed flashes of promise last year, he can’t stay on the field and is nowhere near as talented as Hampton. While New Orleans has bigger needs, General Manager Mickey Loomis loves running backs and could take a first-round talent if he falls into the second.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – Imagn Images
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