Usc Fans Will Love Latest Makai Lemon Nfl Draft Projection

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USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon was a playmaker connected offense, which led him to state for nan 2026 NFL Draft aft his inferior year. Lemon is projected to beryllium a first-round prime successful nan draught and expected to beryllium 1 of nan apical wide receivers of nan class.

Not only is Lemon a first-round projection, but an updated mock draught by Pro Football Focus has nan USC wide receiver going No. 8 wide by nan New Orleans Saints.

Dec 27, 2023; San Diego, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans caput coach Lincoln Riley (right) celebrates pinch wide receiver Makai Lemon (24) aft nan Holiday Bowl against nan Louisville Cardinals astatine Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Lemon is predicted to beryllium nan 3rd wide receiver taken, down Ohio State’s Carnell Tate and Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson. After his capacity successful 2025, Lemon has nan imaginable to measurement correct successful and make a quality connected nan Saints' offense.

Why Makai Lemon Makes Sense for nan New Orleans Saints

In nan 2025 NFL Draft, nan Saints selected backmost Tyler Shough successful nan 2nd round. Although he did not statesman nan play arsenic nan starter, he played done nan 2nd half of nan play and led New Orleans connected a four-game triumph streak. Now that nan Saints recovered their quarterback, nan franchise must build astir him, making Lemon a smart prime for New Orleans.

Dec 28, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; New Orleans Saints backmost Tyler Shough (6) celebrates nan triumph arsenic he leaves nan section against nan Tennessee Titans during nan 2nd half astatine Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images | Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Lemon tin go a existent extracurricular receiving threat for nan Saints. He will beryllium paired up pinch wide receiver Chris Olave, who recorded 1,163 receiving yards. Adding different elite receiver pinch Lemon’s playmaking abilities tin unfastened up nan Saints’ offense.

The Saints won six games successful 2025, 2 less than nan Carolina Panthers, who vanished No. 1 successful nan NFC South. With nan section wide open, Lemon could go an contiguous playmaker to thief nan franchise return a measurement guardant successful Saints coach Kellen Moore’s 2nd season.

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Makai Lemon Boosts Draft Stock With USC Trojans

Lemon spent 3 seasons pinch nan USC Trojans, joining nan programme arsenic a four-star recruit. He stayed in-state, committing to nan Trojans arsenic a California native, and has steadily improved each twelvemonth pinch nan program.

Sep 13, 2025; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Southern California Trojans caput coach Lincoln Riley stands connected nan sidelines during nan first 4th against nan Purdue Boilermakers astatine Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images | Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

In Lemon’s 2nd twelvemonth pinch nan Trojans, he led nan squad pinch 764 receiving yards, showing disconnected his potential. The Trojans faced nan Texas A&M Aggies successful nan Las Vegas Bowl successful 2024, which is erstwhile Lemon proved he tin beryllium nan team’s No. 1 receiver.

One of nan biggest conversations entering nan vessel crippled was regarding USC losing 3 of its apical receivers to nan transportation portal. Lemon ended up signaling six receptions for 99 yards, helping nan Trojans conclusion nan Aggies. After that performance, location was precocious anticipation for Lemon starring up to his 3rd season, and he lived up to nan expectations.

Lemon vanished nan play classed No. 7 successful nan FBS for receiving yards and 2nd successful nan Big Ten, only down Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith. Through nan 2025 season, Lemon racked up 79 receptions for 1,156 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. He recorded aggregate touchdown receptions successful 3 games, which were against Georgia Southern, Illinois, and Oregon.

Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Southern California Trojans caput coach Lincoln Riley reacts against nan Notre Dame Fighting Irish successful nan 2nd half astatine United Airlines Field astatine Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Lemon showcased his abilities to drawback contested passes and proved to beryllium a reliable receiver for backmost Jayden Maiava. According to Pro Football Focus, Lemon caught 66.7 percent of contested targets this season.

Not only could Lemon beryllium nan first USC wide receiver selected successful nan first information since Jordan Addisonin 2023, but he has nan chance to make an contiguous effect successful nan NFL.