The Chargers selected Auburn wide receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith in the fifth round (No. 158 overall pick) in the 2025 NFL Draft on Saturday.
"It's a childhood dream," Lambert-Smith said on Saturday. "I've been waiting for this. I don't care what round, I don't know what pick it was. I just know I'm an L.A. Charger.
He added: "I'm ready to get to work."
Lambert-Smith is regarded as a solid prospect in the wide receiver class and was 17th in The Athletic's Dane Brugler's wide receiver rankings.
Brugler wrote:
After four up-and-down seasons at Penn State, he brought an explosive element to the Auburn offense — he ranked second in the SEC in receiving yards per game (81.8) and top 10 nationally in yards per catch (19.6). Lambert-Smith didn't run a full route tree (mostly hitch, hitch, hitch, with a few go routes mixed in). He was effective at what he was asked to do, however, because he showed the top-end speed to run by defenders and win deep.
The selection of the 22-year-old Lambert-Smith gives the Chargers another dynamic young pass catcher in the position room after adding Tre Harris in the second round. Lambert-Smith clocked in at 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash this spring.
But he says he's ready to show the Bolts he's way more than just a burner.
"I'm a deep threat, but I don't like to classify myself as one thing. I can go deep, I can also be used in quick game, intermediate," Lambert-Smith said. "I'm a route runner. I think I just surprise people with my speed. I don't look like the fastest guy on film, but I'm a smooth runner, I got stride and twitch."
He later added: "I'm ready to go deep for 80-yard touchdowns, I got plenty of those in my career. And I'm ready to get used in intermediate game, quick game. Anyway I can to help the team."
Lambert-Smith, listed at 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, played four years at Penn State before transferring to Auburn.
The wide receiver shined with Auburn, racking up 50 catches for 981 yards and eight touchdowns on his way to Second-Team All-SEC honors.
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