Omarion Hampton and Tre Harris are the lone Chargers invited to attend the annual NFL Rookie Premiere in Los Angeles next week.
Every year, dozens of the league’s brightest incoming players get together in Los Angeles for the NFL Rookie Premiere hosted by Panini America. This year’s event will take place next week from May 14-17 with 42 players currently set to attend.
The NFLPA calls the rookie premiere the “first major business immersion” as the players in attendance will be tasked with taking numerous photos and signing autographs, including thousands of cards featuring their faces.
Per the NFLPA, players are selected to attend based on factors such as “college performance, draft status, position, and marketability, all of which influence their early value in trading cards and brand deals.”
With that criteria in mind, it should come as no surprise that Chargers first and second-round picks Omarion Hampton and Tre Harris are the two Bolts invited to attend. The rookie premiere usually leans towards offensive players — mainly those who play skill positions — which is why you can recall 2024 No. 5 pick Joe Alt not being a part of the event a year ago.
Hampton was a two-time 1,500-yard rusher before being drafted by the Bolts while Harris was one of the best receivers in the SEC prior to his injuries in 2024. They’re both going to help push football card sales towards the Chargers fan base and that’s exactly what Panini America is banking on.
A year ago, 2024 draft picks Ladd McConkey and Brenden Rice were both invited to the event. McConkey went on to set several records for a Chargers rookie wideout while Rice was a mainstay on the practice squad for the entire year.