Starting our 2026 draft cycle off, it’s USC wide receiver Makai Lemon
2025 Unanimous All-American
2025 Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner
2025 Polynesian CFB POY
2025 First-Team Big Ten
2024 Third-Team Big Ten
NFL Comparrison: Amon-Ra St. Brown
Pros:
- Hands are tremendous. Just four drops in 171 college targets. If the ball hits his hands, he’s likely catching it.
- Understands how to opperate against zone and man coverage. His zone coverage understanding is better than most NFL recievers.
- Even with a smaller frame, can get off press coverage with a quick first step.
- Although he has a smaller catch radius than others in this draft, his hands and great jumpball ability make up for what he lacks in size.
- Frequently runs through arm tackles from corners. Won’t exactly make a man miss in space, but is able to break through lazy tackles. 21 missed tackles forced in 2025.
- To build off that, with the ball in his hands, he’s a pure playmaker. 6.7 yards-after-catch per reception.
- Exceptional on scramble drills, does a great job of working back to the quarterback and making himself available.
Cons
- Plays primarily in the slot, 75% on his snaps in college, which is a positon the Bills have satified with Khalil Shakir.
- Subpar blocker, even for a wide receiver.
- Straight line speed won’t wow you, won’t consistently take the top off the defense.
- Even though he can make up for it as I mentioned, he does have a small frame that may limit him at the next level. To what extent, only time will tell.
- Very little chance he’s there at 26, would likely have to trade up to inside the top 15-20.
Summary:
Lemon will be a great receiver in the NFL in my opinion. He has the versitilty to play both inside and out, but I think he’ll make his money in the slot. He’s at his best when he is able to operate in space and find soft spots in zones, which is where I see the Amon-Ra St. Brown comparrison. If he’s somehow able to make it to the Bills, I believe he’d be used as an X-receiver and the team would keep Shakir in the slot. Based off that alone, the fit may not be great, but if he falls into the late teens or early 20s, he’d be too good of a talent to pass up.
