2026 NFL Prospect Profile: USC’s Wide Receiver Makai Lemon

Makai Lemon is an intriguing prospect, as he may not be one of next year’s most heralded talents, but he’s one of the class’s most consistent receivers. He’s an athletic wideout that combines a high football IQ with positional flexibility, which is sure to interest NFL scouts and offensive coordinators around the league.

When he was recruited to USC, Lemon had played wide receiver, defensive back and quarterback in high school, marking himself as a true two-way player. When he arrived at USC, he concentrated on wide receiver, and the Trojans never looked back. 

Lemon had his breakout year in 2024, when he racked up over 50 receptions for nearly 800 yards, tallying 3 touchdowns in a full season. And he’s demonstrated the ability to serve as a team’s featured returner on kicks and punts. 

Strengths

Lemon may be the best route runner in this class of wideouts. He runs crisps routes with a deep route tree and plays a technical game for a young player. He separates well from defensive backs and uses his instincts for the game to always find the open spot in zones or break free in man-to-man situations. 

As a receiver, he demonstrates excellent body control and good ball skills. He has reliable hands and can break every catch for a touchdown. He can juke and evade tacklers and rarely makes mistakes in the mental game. He understands defensive coverages and will read and react to his situation on every single play. He’s quick off the snap and gets on defenders before they can react. And of course, he’ll be a valuable chess piece as a returner on special teams. 

Weaknesses

Lemon isn’t the largest receiver (5’11, 195 lbs.) so he may be relegated to the slot receiver position at the next level. He can be challenged physically by larger and stronger corners on the outside, but has had success at the collegiate level regardless. If he focuses on adding some muscle, his technique and route running will make him a competitive outside threat at the next level. 

Also, he’s blocking is an area where he will need to improve. He doesn’t play the game with a level of physicality, often relying on his finesse and twitchiness to win on the field. But he’ll need to get a bit nastier to contribute to a team’s run scheme in the pros. 

Conclusion 

Lemon is likely going to be a high-value second-round pick. He’s a sure-fire pro but will be overshadowed by some of the class’s receivers. If he continues to produce at USC this year and play well against the top Big Ten defenses, he might sneak into the back end of the first round. But Draft Nation sees Lemon as an immediate contributor in the NFL, coming off the board early on day two.