Chicago Bears NFL Draft Target: Omarion Hampton

Bob Donnan - USA Today Sports

Ariana Pensy - Correspondent - Sunday, March 30 2025

With the NFL Draft a little under a month away, numerous mock drafts project who the Chicago Bears will take with the No. 10 overall pick. In his most recent mock draft, former NFL player and current NFL analyst Bucky Brooks projected the Bears to take running back Omarion Hampton with their first-round pick.

Hampton led the ACC in rushing attempts and rushing yards in 2023 and 2024. His sophomore season in 2023 was a breakout season for him. That year, he recorded 1,504 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. His 15 rushing touchdowns led the ACC that year.

However, 2024 was arguably a better year for him as he was third in the NCAA in rushing yards with 1,660 yards. Only Boise State's running back and Heisman's runner-up, Ashton Jeanty, and Cam Skattebo from Arizona State had more rushing yards than Hampton. He finished his collegiate career No. 19 in the ACC since 1956 in total rushing touchdowns.

During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Hampton was also involved in the passing game. He recorded 29 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown in 2023. The following season, he improved on his performance and had 38 receptions for 373 yards and two touchdowns.

At the NFL Combine, Hampton had a solid performance, running a 4.46 40-yard dash and reaching almost 23 miles per hour. He is among the taller and heavier players, which is a plus for a team looking for a power running back like the Chicago Bears. In fact, Hampton is two inches taller and heavier than Chicago’s current running back, D’Andre Swift.

Nonetheless, Hampton is not generally seen as a top-10 pick. According to the NFL Mock Draft Database, Hampton only has a 24.3 percent chance of getting drafted in the first round. Most mock drafts with him being selected in the first round have the Denver Broncos choosing with the No. 20 overall pick. Bucky Brooks’ mock draft is a rare exception to that.

According to NFL analyst Lance Zierlein, Hampton has struggled with diagnosing lanes and lacks the elusiveness other NFL-caliber backs possess. He also tends to go airborne sometimes when he does not need to. However, these are primarily coachable concerns, which makes him an intriguing prospect.

Given the positive qualities Hampton possesses, he is a player Chicago should consider drafting. However, he is not worthy of a first-round pick. Nonetheless, Brooks’ thinking in his mock draft is understandable. In his mock draft, Jeanty was not available to Chicago at No. 10. Brooks stated the Bears need a “physical runner” in the backfield with Swift, and he would fit head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme since Johnson used the two running backs frequently during his time in Detroit.

If Jeanty is not available, Chicago should look to strengthen its defensive line. Surely, a prospect they are high on will be available with that pick, as this is a deep defensive line class. Not drafting Hampton is more of a strategic move than not valuing him as a prospect.

Since he has over a 75 percent chance of being available when the second round begins, and the Bears have two second-round picks - No. 39 overall and No. 41 overall - it would make more sense for Chicago to use one of these picks on Hampton rather than overvaluing him at their No. 10 overall selection.