Los Angeles Chargers' Omarion Hampton Draft Pick Faces Competition from Alternative Options

The Los Angeles Chargers are heading into the 2026 campaign with high expectations for their offense, led by the potential for a major leap from Justin Herbert. However, the team's decision to draft Omarion Hampton in the first round has been called into question by some experts, who suggest that the team may have made a better choice by selecting a different running back. According to Bleacher Report's 2025 NFL Re-Draft, the Chargers may have been better off selecting Quinshon Judkins, who had an excellent rookie campaign with the Cleveland Browns, or Xavier Watts, who was a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate with the Atlanta Falcons. Gary Davenport, the author of the re-draft, suggests that the Chargers would have been fine with either of these players, especially if it meant addressing a potential weak spot with safety Xavier Watts. The debate over the Hampton pick is a philosophical one, with some experts arguing that the team made a mistake by selecting a running back in the first round. However, others argue that Hampton has the potential to be a real weapon for the Chargers, especially in Mike McDaniel's outside-zone run scheme. As of now, it's far too early to make a definitive judgment on the Hampton pick, but the debate is certainly an interesting one to follow.