Is trading up for Omarion Hampton a viable option for Broncos?

Omarion Hampton is generally regarded as the No. 2 running back in this year’s draft class.

For the Denver Broncos, that could lead to a pertinent question: Is he worth trading up for in a class that is flush with running backs — with the potential for upwards of 30 runners to be drafted.

The past five drafts have seen an average of 19.6 running backs drafted per year — ranging from 18 runners in 2020 and 2023 to a high of 23 in 2022.

This year could see 30 running backs — nearly an entire round’s worth.

But while there’s quantity — and quality, at least in terms of runners who can contribute — there’s a debate as to just how many running backs can be true game-changers — and true three-down backs.

Hampton and Ashton Jeanty — both of whom the Broncos met with at the NFL Scouting Combine — appear to be the true three-down backs available, the potent blends of speed, power and pass-catching ability.

But with so many draftable running backs — and the recent draft trends for running backs, with the best value typically existing in the middle rounds — would it be worth the Broncos’ while to trade up for Hampton — especially given the penchant for first-round trades up the board that Sean Payton had in New Orleans?

That was the question I posed to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. on Wednesday.

“That’s a great question because there’s a lot of depth,” Kiper said. “But depth of quality is where we differ on that because some of these backs are going to be serviceable. They may not be stars, and I think the stars that you know are Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton.”

Kiper had Hampton going No. 12 to Dallas in his final mock draft, published earlier this week. His mock had the Broncos taking Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan with the No. 20 pick.

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In Round 2, Kiper mocked Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins to Denver at pick No. 51. That is the fourth running back off the board in his mock draft; he has Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson going to Chicago at the No. 41 overall spot,=,

“That’s where Sean Payton has to decide, are some of those second-round running backs, are we good enough with them, feel strong enough about them to wait for them, or do we need to go get Hampton, who’s a cut above, OK?” Kiper said.

“If they feel there’s a significant difference from Hampton to the third running back, whether it’s Henderson, Judkins, Kaleb Johnson at Iowa, whoever it may be, then they have to look at Hampton.”

Kiper has Johnson as the sixth running back off the board — and the fourth running back taken in the second round.

But one reason Kiper likes Hampton is how he flourished last year at North Carolina with defenses keyed to stop him.

In the previous years, Hampton shone with opponents focused on Drake Maye, the quarterback who ended up as the No. 3 overall pick of the New England Patriots.

“He lost Drake, but he still produced big-time,” Kiper said. “So, even though they knew who to key on and the opponent knew who was going to be the key guy and it was Hampton.

“Yet he went above and beyond what he did the previous year and his average per carry was the same, touchdowns were the same.

“So, if they feel that he’s the guy, then certainly if he’s there at 20 and he gets past the Cowboys, I’d be surprised if they passed him up.”

At No. 20, it might be an easy call.

But the Broncos may not have that luxury — even if the Cowboys pass on Hampton. Other teams, such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, may be poised to jump the Broncos into the teens and nab him.

Denver was able to stand pat at No. 12 and get its quarterback last year.

But if it wants a running back in Round 1, it might not have the same luxury of waiting for the board to fall its way.