Makai Lemon is a 5’11, 195-pound unique WR prospect from the University of Southern California. The 21-year-old, growing up in California, has an athletic background; his father played running back at UNLV, and his uncles played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Fresno State. He played high school football at 2 schools: Los Alamitos High School and La Mirada High School. At those two high schools, Lemon played WR, DB, and returner. A 4-star recruit in the 2023 class, Lemon originally committed to Oklahoma to follow Lincoln Riley, but followed him when he took the job at Southern California. At Southern California, Lemon emerged quickly as a player, playing with Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams while developing as a freshman before taking off in production starting in his sophomore year. In that developmental role his freshman year, it is worth noting that he filled in at defensive back in the late 2023 season. At USC, he won the 2025 Fred Bilentikoff Award. His stats in Southern California consist of 2023: 6 REC 88 YDS, 2024: 52 REC 764 YDS 3 TDs, 2025: 79 REC 1,156 YDS 11 TDs (2 Rushing, 1 Passing TDs).
He is a physical athlete with a sturdy body and average wide receiver speed. He gets off the ball extremely well, and his routes are crisp with his cuts. Has good burst and acceleration after the football enters his hands. Despite having average wide receiver speed, he separates with no issues at the top of routes. Being primarily in the slot, he usually can match up well with slot corners or against zones because of his strong physique. Lemon has an extremely high football IQ. He knows when to break off his routes at the correct depth, as well as having the awareness to sit down in zones. He has a great vision of the defense and shows his effectiveness during sweeps and end-arounds. He motions well pre-snap, and his play and knowledge of the playbook make the quarterback’s job easier.
He runs very crisp routes and finds the soft spots in the zones better than most. His routes are primarily stuff underneath (slants, drags, ins, curls). USC also liked to use him on bubble screens. Additionally, he has an excellent feel for where he is on the field at all times. Lemon has excellent hands; he can make contested grabs and catch the ball without fear of a big hit. You rarely see him catch with his body, and he plays bigger than his 5’11 “size suggests. In his 3 years, he had 4 total drops on 183 total targets. Lemon gets off the ball really effectively and cuts extremely well with his feet. Uses multiple different releases, but most commonly sees a speed release.
His blocking skills need noticeable improvement. He is not a good perimeter blocker, and his overall run-blocking effort is very questionable. He is a capable blocker. He doesn’t use his physicality during blocking and sometimes doesn’t even get his hands on the defensive back. Lemon is very physical after the catch; he takes on defenders, breaks tackles, and has twitchiness to his game. He won’t house a touchdown, but can make defenders miss for additional yards.
Overall, Makai Lemon is a unique WR prospect who will excel in the slot at the NFL level. His strengths should stand out, and his IQ and awareness should help compensate for his weaknesses. His ability to sit down in the zones should be something a quarterback would want. Lemon has special-teams value, which will be intriguing as a rookie, as he has been able to see the field at all levels. His hands are some of the best, with very few drops, and his sturdy body will help him translate to the NFL on-field play. He has great route-running skills and separates with ease at the top of his routes. Lemon is one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft class and will play in the slot for a team immediately.
Scheme Fit and Team Fit:
Teams that are looking for a playmaker WR that can be a viable option in the slot to take pressure off the quarterback. Teams like the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, and Kansas City Chiefs would all be good fits based on the style of offense they play, but some of these teams pick late in the 1st round, so expect the Cleveland Browns and LA Rams to be interested as well.
NFL Player Comp: Amon-Ra St. Brown / Chris Godwin
The main comparison is Amon-Ra St. Brown because they were used similarly in Southern California. He also resembles a younger version of Chris Godwin when he played in the slot. Both of these guys resemble Lemon because of their similar body types and playstyle.
Projection: Day 1 Starter
He will be a Day 1 starter when training camp rolls around. A great player who should have a fantastic career in the league. Could play for 10+ years. He has traits that NFL teams will want to take pressure off their quarterback. He can be coached up, and his ability in special teams can be valuable as a rookie. I expect him to be a 2nd option on a team early, with the potential to grow into the main option by year 3.
Grade and Round Projection: 6.2
Lemon has a 6.2 grade (initially 5.4) projecting as a 1st Round Top 20 pick, with the upside of going in the Top 10. Could very well be the best WR prospect that comes out of this class.
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