ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. praised the Chargers for the selection of North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton on Thursday night

Eric Smith

The grades are in, and the Chargers are among the teams who thrived inRound 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Bolts picked 22nd overall and added a premiere running back to their offense inOmarion Hampton.

ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. picked six teams who were his'winners' for Thursday night, with the Bolts making the cut.

Kiper wrote:

I thought Hampton would be a Bronco. Denver's run game was missing a punch, and Hampton would have helped second-year QB Bo Nix by taking some pressure off him. Instead, Hampton goes two picks later to a division rival! Denver might have some regret in short order. Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh loves to run the football, and he now has a really good duo in Hampton and Najee Harris. Hampton runs through contact, has breakaway speed and can catch the ball out of the backfield.

I don't love first-round running backs, and this is a deep class at the position. But given Los Angeles' identity on offense, this just makes sense. Hampton is my 14th-ranked prospect, which means there actually is some value despite the position.

Hampton recently starred at North Carolina, where he was twice a First-Team All-American and First-Team All ACC selection.

The Athletic also gave the Chargers some love for the first-round pick bygiving them an 'A grade.'

Nick Baumgardner wrote:

The biggest hole in Los Angeles' offense last year was the lack of a big-time running back who could be featured in Jim Harbaugh's downhill, physical offense. After signing Najee Harris earlier this offseason, the Chargers completed their build of a powerful and explosive backfield by adding a player who was a more productive runner than Jeanty two seasons ago.

Hampton is a true three-down running back he can execute in a zone or gap scheme, inside or outside, plus be a receiver and pass protector. He's a very good fit for the Chargers, who also nailed several picks during the first draft of the Harbaugh-Joe Hortiz regime. If Los Angeles can create more explosion in the run game, it will open up so much for Justin Herbert. This pick makes a ton of sense.

Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report concurred with that opinion as he also handed out an'A grade'to the Chargers.

Jim Harbaugh originally brought intellectual brutality to the Stanford Cardinal. He's always been a run-first coach who emphasizes a power running game. Well, no back is better prepared to play in the Los Angeles Chargers' offense than North Carolina's Omarion Hampton.

Although Boise State's Ashton Jeanty was a Heisman Trophy finalist and near-record-breaking runner, Hampton established himself as a legitimate first-round talent and a force unto himself in the deepest running back class in recent memory.

And Rob Rang of Fox Sports rounded out the kudos with an'A- grade'as he also noted Harbaugh's desire to produce a punishing ground game on offense.

Love him or hate him, Jim Harbaugh is going to play power football. With all due respect to Ashton Jeanty, the 6-0, 221-pound Hampton might be the best combination of size, speed and power in this exceptional running back class. Hampton didn't just run fast (4.46 40) in workouts, he plays fast, showing rare acceleration between second and third gear that translates well to the NFL. And Chargers fans will love his grit, as Hampton barrels ahead, grinding for every inch. Hampton is the true bell cow Harbaugh requires.

The Chargers enter Day 2 with nine picks, beginning with No. 55 (second round) and No. 86 (third round) onDay 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.