Wide receiver was a huge area of need ahead of the NFL draft for the Chargers. Tre Harris out of Ole Miss was the flashy selection with the 55th overall pick.
The front office took another wideout later in the draft in the fifth round, though, and he’s flown a bit under the radar. That would be KeAndre Lambert-Smith, who played his final collegiate season in the SEC at Auburn.
The abrupt retirement of Mike Williams last week has opened up the door for more opportunities in that wide receiver room. Lambert-Smith has been the one who has taken advantage of them.
Over the last few days of training camp, Lambert has earned rave reviews with several stellar plays. He has shown an innate ability to track down the ball in the air, a trait that the Chargers could certainly use from their wide receiver room.
A few days ago, offensive coordinator Greg Roman compared the rookie to former NFL wideout Brandon Lloyd. Roman has been impressed by everything Lambert-Smith has shown, including his speed and movement skills.
He’s being forced into action a bit earlier than expected, but he’s passed the test with flying colors. His emergence, along with Quentin Johnston’s impressive start to camp, makes it less of a necessity for the Chargers to go sign another wideout.
They may just feel comfortable enough to stick with this unit if they continue to perform like this. Not only does Lambert-Smith feel like a lock for the 53-man roster, but he seems ready to earn some early playing time in Year 1.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Day 3 pick flashing dynamic playmaking at Chargers training camp
Reporting by Spencer Schultz, Chargers Wire / Chargers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
