After the loss in Denver last Monday Night, the Cleveland Browns were all but mathematically eliminated from the 2024 NFL Playoffs. It would be easy to lament what went wrong this season especially at the beginning of the season. But the Cleveland Browns as an organization must look into the future. It has already been reported that both general manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski will be back in 2025. So, any speculation of coaching or front office changes are moot. The team is now building towards next season, and I want to take a look at an interesting prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft.

University of North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton is not getting the publicity of Ashton Jeanty from Boise State. But he does deserve a strong look from NFL teams. The 21-year-old 6’ tall 220 lbs.  running back is the leading rusher in the ACC with 1660 yards in 281 attempts. He averages 5.9 yards a carry with 15 touchdowns. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield. He has 38 catches for 373 yards and 2 touchdowns. The UNC junior is expected to enter the NFL draft in 2025 and is projected to be late first or early second round pick. Which teams would be interested in drafting him?

I think any team in the AFC North Division would be interested in him. He is a prototypical AFC North running back. I can see the Cleveland Browns drafting him as the future replacement for Nick Chubb. Keep in mind Nick Chubb is still recovering from an ACL injury and will be 30 years old in 2025. Who better for Hampton to learn from to start his NFL career than Nick Chubb? And if the Browns draft Hampton in the spring of 2025. It doesn’t mean that Chubb’s career in Cleveland is ending. It means that the Browns have their eye on the future while maintaining the present.