Jim Harbaugh Says Chargers Declined Multiple Trade Offers to Draft Omarion Hampton

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed that the Bolts turned down multiple trade offers in the first round of the NFL draft to select UNC running back Omarion Hampton with the No. 22 overall pick.

The Chargers changed up their running back room this offseason, parting ways with J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Los Angeles added ex-Pittsburgh Steeler RB Najee Harris via free agency, and now the Bolts have Hampton, a two-time first-team All-ACC player who amassed 3,759 total yards and 33 touchdowns over his past two seasons.

Hampton's in position to lead the backfield for the foreseeable future, and that could be a huge win for the rising Chargers, who improved from 5-12 to 11-6 and a playoff berth in Harbaugh's first year as head coach.

He ranked well on the final B/R NFL Scouting Department big board at No. 2 among running backs behind only Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty. B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson gave a pro comparison of "shades of David Montgomery," the Detroit Lions back who has amassed at least 1,074 total yards and six touchdowns in each of his six NFL seasons.

Ultimately, it's easy to see why the Chargers passed on those trade offers given Hampton's potential, and now the new Bolt back joins a promising offense and a team looking to make the next step under Harbaugh with a playoff win and potentially more.