The Chargers are heading into training camp with optimism, but with real questions at the wide receiver position opposite young star Ladd McConkey. The Chargers selected Tre Harris in the second round to fill that role but sometimes opportunities open up for under the radar players to shine. Right now, that player is KeAndre Lambert-Smith—the Chargers’ fifth-round rookie wide receiver—who’s quickly emerging as one of the most intriguing prospects not just on the Chargers, but in the entire NFL rookie class.
Lambert-Smith has been generating buzz ever since he was selected. SB Nation reported that wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have both been impressed, pointing out that the skill sets which drew the Chargers to both of their drafted receivers are already showing up at practice. According to SI.com, Roman went so far as to say he’s “really excited” about his rookie pass-catching duo.
A quick look at the numbers reveals why there’s so much buzz about the former Penn State and Auburn star. When stacking up Lambert-Smith’s 2024 numbers against the three wide receivers picked right before him in the fourth round, Jaylen Royals, Elic Ayomanor, and Jordan Watkins, Lambert-Smith holds up extremely well. In fact, he even outpaces those four prospects.
Lambert-Smith not only leads the group in overall receiving grade but also stands out as a “big play” threat. He averaged an outstanding 19.6 yards per reception in 2024 which ranked ninth nationally. He also matched or exceeded his peers in total receptions and touchdowns, making him one of the most dangerous deep options in college football last season.
Lambert-Smith’s numbers look even more impressive in context. Despite playing on an Auburn offense that struggled (especially at quarterback), he distinguished himself as a consistent big-play weapon. Lambert-Smith impressed enough to be named second team All-SEC on an abysmal Auburn Tigers squad.
Lambert-Smith’s slide in the draft was tied to a few interesting developments that seemed hypocritical. For example, scouts knocked him for “below average long speed.” This seems bizarre considering Lambert-Smith’s production (19.6 yards per catch!). It gets even stranger after he ran a sub 4.4 40 yard dash. On the same scouting reports Lambert-Smith was shown running a 4.3 40, averaging almost 20 yards per catch, while simultaneously being described as being too slow. It didn’t make sense. But their error in judgement will result in the Chargers gain.
One aspect of Lambert-Smith that will be especially appealing to the Chargers is his maturity and adaptability. He’s already experienced the upheaval that comes with transferring between schools, moving from Penn State (Big Ten) to Auburn (SEC). He proved he could excel with new teammates, new systems, and new challenges. Now, those same qualities make him particularly suited for the transition to the NFL.
Early training camp holds special opportunity for rookies—especially when established players are unavailable due to injury or contract issues. With fellow rookie Trey Harris currently in a holdout and veteran Mike Williams on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, Lambert-Smith is getting extra reps and the chance to build rapport early with Justin Herbert and offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
History tells us that when a rookie makes noise throughout the offseason, they have a legitimate shot of becoming a big time player early. Lambert-Smith’s availability, adaptability, and big-play ability position him perfectly to take advantage of that window.
Disclaimer: The content of this article was originally published as a YouTube video on the Saturday Morning Inspection YouTube channel. With AI assistance, the publisher of the video created this article based on the content of that video.
