North Carolina Tar Heels running back Omarion Hampton and Boise State Broncos RB Ashton Jeanty are universally considered the top backfield options heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. So, which one will go off the big board first?
The opportunity to choose between Hampton and Jeanty is a good problem to have for teams picking early in Round 1. While the Doak Walker Award winner remains the favorite to get picked first, it’s not an open-and-shut case. There is a very interesting debate going on in NFL front offices right now.
ESPN Draft Expert Debates Omarion Hampton vs. Ashton Jeanty
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. is never one to avoid controversy or give the by-the-book answer. He does his homework. He’s an expert. And he turns over every stone during his exhaustive draft research.
So, it was telling to hear Kiper say that front-office executives have told him that Hampton and Jeanty are “neck and neck” right now, with some war rooms preparing to take the former over the latter if the opportunity presents itself.
Kiper wrote, “I’ve talked to people in the NFL who have Jeanty and Hampton neck and neck for RB1, and there are even some who prefer Hampton. … Hampton is a home-run hitter who had 1,660 yards and 15 rushing TDs in 2024.”
It’s important to note that Kiper still had Jeanty going off the board first, at pick No. 6 to the Las Vegas Raiders, and pegged Hampton to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 overall. Either way, the conversation is being had about the strengths and weaknesses of each running back, arguably the two best in college football.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah echoed the merits of Hampton when evaluating this year’s running back class. He also sees the uber-talented North Carolina product rising up draft boards.
“I wouldn’t be shocked if some teams ended up having Hampton as their top running back,” Jeremiah told Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. “He’s bigger and he’s going to run fast. He’s super explosive. He’s loose for a big guy. When I update my top 50, there’ll be less distance between those two. Hampton’s going to move up for me.”
Comparing the Best Running Backs in the 2025 NFL Draft Class
One thing everyone can agree on is Hampton and Jeanty are hands down the best two running backs out there. PFSN’s Owain Jones has Jeanty going to the Dallas Cowboys in Round 1 in his latest mock draft, while Hampton remains on the board until pick 22 when the Los Angeles Chargers grab him.
Jones says, “Jeanty deservedly is the talking point as the top running back, but don’t sleep on the rest of this class. Omarion Hampton would rightfully be the top rusher in a lot of other draft classes.
“The North Carolina Tar Heel is a strong pass protector and an adequate receiver, allowing him to stay on the field for all three downs. At the same time, his vision, ferocious leg drive, and fluidity will enable him to be adaptable to different running schemes.”
“Combine or no combine, [Ashton Jeanty] is one of the best players in this class.” @nfldraftscout compares Ashton Jeanty to Alvin Kamara 👀 pic.twitter.com/0G0vR5uReA
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 25, 2025
Meanwhile, PFSN’s Joe DeLeone has Hampton sliding all the way down to Round 2, where the Cleveland Browns steal him at pick 33. Like Jones, DeLeone has Jeanty going at No. 12 overall to Dallas.
“Ashton Jeanty becoming a Dallas Cowboy is consistently one of my favorite projected draft picks this cycle,” wrote DeLeone. “Dallas was so bland and unexplosive offensively last year because they lacked weapons on offense. Jeanty is a home-run threat who has the vision to explode behind a historically good offensive line.”
For comparison’s sake, Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards on 374 carries last season at Boise State while racking up 30 total touchdowns. Hampton finished with 1,660 yards on 281 totes while scoring 17 total touchdowns in 2024.