Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books.

The Chargers added a big-time playmaker to their offense with North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton, who was the pick at No. 22 overall.

Chargers General Manager Joe Hortiz and Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh met with reporters Thursday night.

Here are five takeaways from their media availability:

1. Why Hampton at No. 22

The Chargers didn't hesitate when they called in the pick for Hampton.

In fact, Hortiz called it a "unanimous" decision to take the former North Carolina star in Round 1.

Harbaugh concurred: "This was not something that was ever split."

So, why was Hampton the pick at No. 22?

Hortiz said Hampton really popped up on their radar early in the fall and simply never left.

"This is a guy, through the process in the fall, the scouts identified early on as a guy they really love. Coaches got involved, same thing," Hortiz said. "A lot of love for him, a guy we felt could impact our team and really a guy who's held his water through the entire process.

"We finished our meetings ... [and asked], 'If he's there would we take him at number 22?' Absolutely," Hortiz added. "Fired up to get him, I feel like we got stronger and better."

The Chargers could have gone a bunch of different directions in Round 1.

Hortiz has built the current depth chart to where the Bolts don't have any glaring needs but could look to add talent and depth across a number of positions.

It just so happened that running back was the choice in Round 1, primarily because Hampton was a top-tier talent at the position.

Especially considering the fact that the Bolts thought Hampton likely wouldn't even be in consideration by the time they were on the clock.

"Did I think Omarion was going to be there? No," Hortiz said. "Because he was one of those unanimous guys and you kind of anticipate unanimous guys being gone. But we're fired up he was there."

2. Plenty of production at North Carolina

Two years ago, Hampton rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns on 253 attempts, good for 5.9 yards per pop.

But that was with quarterback Drake Maye — the No. 3 pick in last year's draft — leading North Carolina's offense, meaning defenses likely weren't 100-percent committed to stopping the run.

"I go back to last year when I was evaluating Drake May and other players in North Carolina in the fall," Hortiz said. "He stood out back then. There was just this big physical runner with breakaway speed and punishing people and making guys miss. It was like, 'Wow, this is a heck of a back.'"

No matter for Hampton, who produced another eye-popping season in 2024.

His stat line? 1,660 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 281 carries ... good for exactly 5.9 yards per carry again.

"And to watch him do it again this year — two years of production, durability, high character, work ethic off the charts — everything about him, that's what makes him stand out," Hortiz added.

Hortiz said Thursday that Hampton's ability to shine without Maye under center was something that caught their eye during the evaluation process.

"You know teams are going to load the box more and I think his average was almost the same, if not the same for this year," Hortiz said.

"He averaged the exact same yards per carry this year. 5.9 and 5.9. More people geared up to stop him and he keeps producing. It's impressive," Hortiz added.

Harbaugh also chimed in.

"I love — love — the production," Harbaugh said. "Fired up to get an outstanding football player who really loves football and can score the ball."

Those mind-boggling stats earned Hampton some hardware, too.

He earning Second-Team All-American honors, First-Team All-ACC accolades and was a finalist for the Doak Walker Award (nation's top running back) in each of the past two seasons.

3. True to the Harbaugh mentality

It's late April but Hortiz and Harbaugh were asked whether or not Hampton could earn a potential starting role as a rookie.

Harbaugh noted that while none of that will be set in stone for awhile, the Bolts plan to deploy a booming 1-2 punch with Hampton alongside Najee Harris this season.

Harris, who signed a 1-year deal with the Bolts in free agency, is listed at 6-foot-1 and 242 pounds. Hampton, meanwhile, is 6-0 and 221 pounds.

Put another way, the Chargers are going to line up and run the ball with a pair of meaty and powerful running backs in 2025. Just the way Harbaugh wants it.

"He brings that same type of mentality Najee brings. Like I said last week, we're looking for someone who complements but also offers the same," Hortiz said.

"I think he's going to fit right into that physical mentality with that speed and explosiveness as well," Hortiz added.

Harbaugh raved about Hampton's ability to break tackles ... and for good reason.

According to Pro Football Focus, 2,505 of Hampton's career rushing yards came after contact. He also forced 155 missed tackles during his college career.

"He's able to step through it, step over it," Harbaugh said.

Harbaugh also noted Hampton's ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and his prowess in pass protection.

But make no mistake about it, the Bolts tabbed Hampton at No. 22 overall to toe the rock alongside Harris.

"He's a bigger back, 220 pounds, but can still run in the 4.4s and score the ball. So many things he's good at and we're fired up to get him," Harbaugh said.

4. A possible trade back?

The Chargers took their first-round pick down to the wire, submitting it with just seconds left on the clock.

Hortiz said he was busy working the phones but ultimately felt like sticking and picking with Hampton was the best call.

"As you take every player, you have to listen to offers. And we had a lot of calls coming in, we did," Hortiz said. "Multiple teams called us and we were talking through things. In the end, he was the guy we were taking."

"Discussions were had. We listened, entertained some ideas, we talked about it and had discussions with teams but in the end, you either make a trade or make the pick. And we made the pick," Hortiz added.

Hortiz declined to get into specifics as to which teams he was on the horn with.

"I'm not going to talk about the teams specifically. But we had a number of calls from a number of teams," Hortiz said,

The Chargers GM was also asked about whether or not the Bolts looked to trade up in Round 1.

"Every draft you consider options both ways," Hortiz said before adding that the Bolts didn't feel the value was worth it.

"I wasn't willing to shoot for the moon and make a massive jump up," Hortiz added. "We knew there were some good players we really valued that had a chance to be there. Omarion got to us."

5. Peeking ahead to Day 2

The Chargers enter Day 2 with a pair of picks at their disposal.

The Bolts hold the No. 55 overall pick in the second round and No. 86 in Round 3.

And while many draft experts said the 2025 NFL Draft lacked high-end talent at the top of Round 1, that same group said that Day 2 is filled with plenty of talent, depth and experience.

Hortiz on Thursday night agreed with that notion.

"You put together your list for the first round and there's a number of guys still on that list for us," Hortiz said. "That's the type of draft it is. It's a deep draft that runs deep. It's going to carry through into the second and third round in terms of talent."

"It's populated by players who stayed and extra year and developed and got better. I think the league is going to benefit from it. You're going to see a lot of good players taken [Friday]," Hortiz added.

Looking to Day 3, the Chargers have a whopping seven picks, including four selections in Round 6 alone.