KeAndre Lambert-Smith 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• Uncle is long-time NFL standout Kam Chancellor

• Consensus four-star recruit credited with 39-inch vertical and sub-4.00s short shuttle as a recruit
• Selected to the All-America Bowl as a recruit

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Spread offense with RPO and QB-run elements
• 2022 projected role: Featured WR

Pros: KeAndre Lambert-Smith is a quick-twitch athlete who has shown the ability to serve as a big-play creator for the Penn State offense, albeit in a limited role to this point in his career. Lambert-Smith is smooth with his redirection capabilities and does well to temper his pace and accelerate as necessary to try to create space in the open field both as a ball carrier and as a route-runner. He’s been most dangerous to this point in time running glance routes off of RPOs; he took one to the house against Illinois in such a fashion that showcased his open-field ability. I’m curious to see whether or not Lambert-Smith commands more time in the slot or on the perimeter in 2022, as his short-area agility skills would seemingly be well used in the slot—that’s been a spot played by teammate Parker Washington and 2022 first-round pick Jahan Dotson to this point. I think more time in the middle of the field could tap into more potential for Lambert-Smith as a productive player on the offense. 

Cons: One reason I’m so keen on an increase of play inside is that I did not see a lot of separation on the outside as a route-runner for KeAndre Lambert-Smith against top competition. His touchdown against Illinois came against Cover 0 and he cashed in a coverage bust against Arkansas for another long score—his other big plays on the season included a romp through an FCS opponent in Villanova for more than 80 yards. His production in general has been feast or famine as more than 40% of his 521 receiving yards last year came on four receptions: the score versus Illinois, the score versus Arkansas, the YAC effort against Villanova, and a 52-yard completion against Wisconsin. I’m going to need to see more sustainability to get really excited about his resume, particularly when considering I thought teams like Michigan did a really good job of bottling him up one-on-one on the perimeter. I think he can grow as a route-runner and with his release package but I am more excited about his ability to play inside where he’s naturally given more room to work.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith NFL Draft Scouting Report by Kyle Crabbs