Makai Lemon — 2026 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 2.0

Big plays have come at a premium for Cleveland. Lemon will help create more.

The Rams' biggest need by far this offseason is outside cornerback, and it might be one they address in free agency or a trade. Rather than force the position right after the top two options went off the board, the Rams instead pivot to an underrated need at the third wide receiver spot. With Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in high-volume roles, the Rams must find better insurance for those engines than they had last season. Unlike Tutu Atwell, Lemon can find his way onto the field because he's extremely physical and a strong blocker, which matters so much to Sean McVay. Lemon took his game to another level last season with 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's a perfect future Adams replacement who can duplicate enough of Nacua to manage his snap share and volume load, too.

Makai Lemon is the best WR in the class by my estimation. He'll be best used in the slot, but he won't be limited to it. He lacks blazing speed, but his ability to move and change direction separates him from the rest of the class. He might be only 5-foot-11, but he plays like he's 6-foot-3 on contested balls. He's the kind of WR who will be a QB's best friend, and Cleveland can use one of those.

The Saints inject a major boost to Tyler Shough's receiving corps. Kellen Moore will know exactly how to utilize Lemon's skills.

It would be nice for the Ravens to beef up the interior offensive line, but they are a playmaker short in the passing game as well. The Ravens finished 30th in receiving first downs this past season (141), ahead of only the Jets and Browns. They were also 30th in yards after the catch.

What Lemon lacks in stature (5-foot-11, 195 pounds), he makes up for in several ways. He has an off-the-charts catch radius, elevated instincts and a determined running style after the catch. He can shake defenders in the short and intermediate passing game, which led to him averaging the third-most receiving yards per game in the FBS last season (96.3).

The Steelers might not traditionally take wide receivers in the first round, but after their 2025 passing attack faltered time and again outside of deep forays to DK Metcalf and a bevy of tight end targets, I think it'll be OK for them to break tradition and add some juice to their pass-catching group. Lemon's play style (he was primarily a slot player at USC) pairs nicely with Metcalf as well as Mike McCarthy's quick-hitting scheme (regardless if Aaron Rodgers returns or not), and gives this offense an underneath weapon who can actually create something.

This is an interesting pick here. I think the Saints will look to build around Tyler Shough, who I thought showed flashes as a rookie quarterback. Because of that, I think Jeremiyah Love should be an option for the Saints here. But I went with Lemon, who is an outstanding wide receiver. The way he operates in space and over the middle shows how he has such a strong feel for the game. He knows how to attack the grass thanks to the offense he played in at USC.