Turf Show Times
If Omarion Hampton falls to the Los Angeles Rams in the first round they should consider him
The Los Angeles Rams are currently slated to pick 26th overall in the upcoming NFL draft, and I looked at PFF’s top 200 Prospects. As of this writing, running back Omarion Hampton is listed as prospect #25. Ashton Jeanty is the only RB currently ahead of Hampton.
If Hampton falls could L.A. use their 26th pick on the 25th prospect?
He’ll turn 22 in March and just put up over 2,000 scrimmage yards for North Carolina. He was a First-team All American and First-team All-ACC in his ‘23 and ‘24 seasons. Hampton played immediately as a freshman showing that he was capable once he arrived at the college level, and he showed improvement throughout his student-athlete career. He totaled 40 touchdowns in his three years at NC to go along with zero fumbles.
At 6’ 0” and 220 pounds he’d add a larger dynamic that the Rams do not currently have at their running back position.
He’s a physical force and similar to Puka Nacua, you put the ball in his hands and you watch him turn into a wrecking ball.
The team currently has workhorse Kyren Williams on the roster, and high-upside prospect Blake Corum, but other than those two the RB room seems open. So no, the Rams do not have a NEED at the position, but Hampton could put the unit and the offense over the top.
The combine can change everyone’s perception, and anything can occur from now to draft day, but Hampton has shown in college he is a three-down back, and an engine for a team over the course of a season.
The Rams are likely to trade back for more picks since they do not have a second rounder in April, or they could pivot to take the best player available.
L.A. also may shock everyone and trade up like they were rumored to be looking to do last NFL Draft for Brock Bowers.
In fact, they may have to trade up for Hampton as there’s no guarantee he falls to them, but I can’t see the Rams doing that after spending a third-round pick on Corum last draft. Then again this is the same team who once drafted Tutu Atwell in the second round, and traded up for Braden Fiske a year ago.
The Rams can surprise.
NFL.com lists his perceived weaknesses as:
“One-speed, long-strider runner with limited one-cut ability.
Slow vision to diagnose lane development and change run tracks.
Bangs into blockers and lacks adequate elusiveness.
Too eager to leave his feet and take abuse in the air.
Below-average speed to win wide and turn the corner.”
