The Los Angeles Chargers doubled down on offense with their first two picks, taking North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton in the first, then Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris in the second.
With the 86th pick in the third round, the Chargers took Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell. With the 125th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they selected South Carolina edge rusher Kyle Kennard.
In the 5th round, they selected Auburn wide receiver Keandre Lambert-Smith.
Los Angeles Chargers Select WR Keandre Lambert-Smith With Pick 158th In the 5th Round
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Keandre Lambert-Smith as the 17th wide receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft class, writing, “Lambert-Smith has the explosive speed to be a big-play threat for a vertical-based offense, although the volatility in his game will pigeonhole him. His lack of special-teams experience will need to change for him to secure a roster spot.”
KeAndre Lambert-Smith’s college career includes a notable 2024 season at Auburn, where he was a one-year starter and operated as the Z receiver (right side of the formation) in head coach Hugh Freeze’s run-pass option (RPO)-oriented offense. Following four seasons at Penn State, his arrival at Auburn injected an explosive element into their passing game. He demonstrated this explosiveness by ranking second in the SEC in receiving yards per game (81.8) and among the top 10 nationally in yards per catch (19.6).
Lambert-Smith’s effectiveness stemmed from his ability to utilize his top-end speed to consistently outpace defenders and excel on deep routes. While his route tree was somewhat limited (primarily consisting of hitches and go routes), he executed his assigned role effectively.
However, despite improved catch finishing in 2024, Lambert-Smith’s lack of size presented challenges at various stages of the route. Defenders were often able to disrupt his adjustments on the football, both at the line of scrimmage, mid-route, and at the catch point.
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