The Chargers Drafted A Running Back In The First Round In The Year 2025

To set the scene for the Chargers here, it is very clear what went wrong last year. The had an overinflated regular season record thanks to an easy schedule of BAD/Rookie qbs. Beating the teams they're supposed to beat is a huge step up from the Staley/Lynn era but it gave a false confidence come playoff time. Once they played actually good team, every weakness they had was exposed. Their interior offensive line was a wet paper bag that let Herbert get pressured on over half of his dropbacks vs the Texans while his dogshit receiver room (outside of my beautiful prince Ladd McConkey) was literally passing interceptions to their DBs.

They went into the offseason needing a few changes. The biggest needs being upgrades at all three IOL spots, wide receiver, and a replacements for for "Hospital" Joey Bosa and the amazing Poona Ford. They addressed some of this during free agency, specifically getting Mekhi Becton to fill in at RG. They also notably signed Najee Harris, whose value is tied into him being a workhorse as a downhill back. 

To set the scene for me here, I waited for the Chargers turn in the draft in the NY office next to Jersey Jerry. As we wondered which players our teams would pick, I said out loud "I'm starting to get worried that Jim is going to go full Jim brain and draft Hampton because he think's it's still 2012." That turned out to be prophetic as the Chargers took Omarion Hampton with the 22nd pick. 

Here is the thing: Is Hampton a great player? Shit, maybe. Every other analyst raves about how the gap between him and Jeanty is actually pretty small. His highlights are great and I love a RB that can punch for extra yards. I'm not sure how much stock I put in the ACC or the fact that his biggest games last year came against 4-8 Wake Forest, 6-7 NC State and 2-10 Florida State but you could make those same arguments against Jeanty.  

Let's say he ends up being an above average player. Most of his profiles say he is a workhorse back, downhill runner and if that sounds familiar, it's because that also describes Najee Harris. So now they're rostering two running backs with a similar profile while their all world QB is throwing to plumbers and being blocked by Big Ev at Center and Klemmer and LG. 

Let's say Hampton ends up being an ELITE running back which could very well happen (especially considering Greg Roman/Harbaugh are determined to be a true running team). Does that actually matter? Here is the composition of the last few Super Bowl Rosters.

So what is the trend here? One thing is for sure and it is that you will likely need a top OL and WR group to win a Super Bowl. The other thing that is about as certain as it gets is that you do NOT need an elite RB. Saquon is the lone exception on this entire list and not only was he complimented not only by the best roster in football but a running QB (which Herbert isn't). You can make up for areas with others but you NEED a top O line and receivers. 

"Well, Kenjac, if you're so smart who do you think they should have drafted?"

To tell you the truth, I don't know. I am not deep enough into the CFB world to know who is great but I am deep enough into the NFL to see what the Chargers biggest needs were coming into the draft. And, to be clear, I'm not one of the simpletons like from last year who just wanted to draft the fastest, flashiest receiver for Herbert (Nabers) over what the team needed (Alt). You can see the receipts here. 

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I just don't see the need at the position, especially at the cost of something as valuable as a first rounder. Maybe GM Joe Hortiz sees nothing but dogshit in the rest of that first round and it's more than likely he ends up making me look like an idiot here, but I'm just not thrilled with the move. However, (like I predicted in the blog above), he did make a phenomenal day two WR pick and found incredible value on day three with Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still.