Around the NFL

August 01, 2025

Round 1 to KeAndre Lambert-Smith

Fifth-rounder shines in pro debut

KeAndre Lambert-Smith got my attention in the Hall of Fame game. He looks like he could be a factor for the Chargers.

Early in the game, Lambert-Smith got free down the right sideline for a 28-yard over-the-shoulder catch. And late in the half, he ran a slant route that resulted in a 15-yard touchdown.

The Chargers selected another wide receiver, Tre Harris, in the second round. Harris also played the entire first half. But Lambert-Smith was the more impressive wide receiver in this game. He passes the eyeball test, and you could reasonably conclude it’s going to be him, rather than Harris, who’s playing a bunch this year.

Both of these receivers were downfield threats for SEC teams last year. Harris finished with better numbers, catching 60 passes for 1,030 yards and 7 TDs for Ole Miss. In four more games, Lambert-Smith caught 10 fewer passes, for 981 yards, with 8 TDs. That’s 19.6 yards per catch for him, and 17.2 for Harris.

But Harris was playing in a more dynamic offense. The Rebels had a first-round quarterback and averaged 88 more passing yards per week.

Lambert-Smith is the faster of the two, running 4.37 at the combine. Harris ran only 4.54 (though he’s bigger and jumped 4 inches higher). If they’re looking to get some long plays out of one of these guys, I think Lambert-Smith is a better fit.

Finding good receivers in the fifth round is rare. But they show up from time to time. In the last 20 years, six receivers selected in the fifth round have had a top-12 season at some point in their career – Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs, Puka Nacua among guys who played last year.

Nine others have at least had a top-40 receiver during their career, including Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton and Khalil Shakir. (That’s using PPR scoring). It’s early, but Lambert-Smith looks like he might develop into one of those kind of guys. If I were walking into a draft today (dynasty or otherwise), I would select Lambert-Smith before Harris.

The chart below shows the best seasons in the 32-team era by receivers chosen in the fifth round, using PPR scoring. I’m showing only the best season by each player (so just one listing for Tyreek Hill), and only two of these players are rookie (Nacus and Slayton).

BEST 5TH-ROUND WIDE RECEIVERS (since 2002)
Year	Player	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	PPR	Rk
2023	Tyreek Hill, Mia.	119	1799	15.1	13	378.4	2
2020	Stefon Diggs, Buff.	127	1535	12.1	8	328.6	3
2004	Joe Horn, N.O.	94	1399	14.9	11	301.9	2
2023	Puka Nacua, LAR	105	1486	14.2	6	298.5	4
2021	Hunter Renfrow, L.V.	103	1038	10.1	9	261.1	10
2017	Marvin Jones, Det.	61	1101	18.1	9	225.1	12
2021	Darnell Mooney, Chi.	81	1055	13.0	4	219.7	24
2008	Steve Breaston, Ari.	77	1006	13.1	3	196.4	25
2013	Riley Cooper, Phil.	47	835	17.8	8	184.3	31
2024	Khalil Shakir, Buff.	76	821	10.8	4	182.5	37
2017	Kenny Stills, Mia.	58	847	14.6	6	178.7	26
2010	Johnny Knox, Chi.	51	960	18.8	5	177.2	32
2019	Darius Slayton, NYG	48	740	15.4	8	170.0	37
2012	Denarius Moore, Oak.	51	741	14.5	7	166.6	39
2012	Jeremy Kerley, NYJ	56	827	14.8	2	159.6	42
2021	K.J. Osborn, Min.	50	655	13.1	7	158.5	40
2002	Corey Bradford, Hou.	45	697	15.5	6	149.6	49
2008	Justin Gage, Ten.	34	651	19.2	6	135.1	45
2008	Bobby Wade, Min.	53	645	12.2	2	129.5	49

If you’re interested only in rookie numbers, things get leaner. There’s Nacus, Hill and Slayton, then a smattering of others making the top 60. Only 16 making the top 100.

5TH-ROUND ROOKIE RECEIVERS (since 2002)
Year	Player	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD	PPR	Rk
2023	Puka Nacua, LAR	105	1486	14.2	6	298.5	4
2016	Tyreek Hill, K.C.	61	593	9.7	6	219.0	18
2019	Darius Slayton, NYG	48	740	15.4	8	170.0	37
2020	Darnell Mooney, Chi.	61	631	10.3	4	152.1	50
2015	Stefon Diggs, Min.	52	720	13.9	4	149.3	47
2011	Denarius Moore, Oak.	33	618	18.7	5	136.9	51
2009	Johnny Knox, Chi.	45	527	11.7	5	133.7	51
2019	Hunter Renfrow, Oak.	49	605	12.4	4	133.5	55
2013	Kenny Stills, N.O.	32	641	20.0	5	127.1	56
2023	Dontayvion Wicks, G.B.	39	581	14.9	4	121.9	57
2018	Marquez Valdes-Scantling, G.B.	38	581	15.3	2	111.0	66
2016	Tajae Sharpe, Ten.	41	522	12.7	2	105.3	73
2017	Trent Taylor, S.F.	43	430	10.0	2	98.0	68
2011	Jeremy Kerley, NYJ	29	314	10.8	1	71.3	91
2002	Jason McAddley, Ari.	25	362	14.5	1	67.2	89
2003	Justin Gage, Chi.	17	338	19.9	2	62.8	90

—Ian Allan

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Tre Harris

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