Former USC Trojans wide receiver Makai Lemon distinguished himself as one of the best players in college football last season with a devastating connection with QB Jayden Maiava. After declaring for the NFL Draft, Lemon is battling to become the first WR off the board in a class where he has been mocked as an early-to-mid first-rounder.
Alongside Lemon, the 2026 draft class also contains talented wide receivers, including former Arizona State Sun Devils star Jordyn Tyson and former Ohio State Buckeyes standout Carnell Tate.
Makai Lemon Hype Dismissed by LSU Legend
In a lengthy post on X on Saturday, LSU legend Breiden Fehoko dismissed the immense hype by fans and analysts around Lemon and instead called for him to fall to the fourth round of the NFL Draft.
“I’m not seeing the hype about Makai Lemon. He doesn’t have elite speed, & he’s much smaller so he isn’t a physical body. If you’re going to comp him to Amon Ra then he needs to fall along the lines of a 4th round receiver,” Fehoko tweeted.
After a stellar 2025 season for the Trojans, Lemon won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award, given to the best wide receiver in the country and previously won by legends like Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith.
Lemon Rises in ESPN Guru’s Latest Mock Draft
Lemon was one of the biggest risers in ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft after he was projected to be selected No. 8 overall by the New Orleans Saints. He is predicted to be the second wide receiver off the board after former Ohio State Buckeyes star Carnell Tate to the Cleveland Browns with the sixth pick.
“Quarterback Tyler Shough flashed down the stretch of his rookie season, but now the Saints must help him take the next step in Year 2. I had Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson to New Orleans in my first mock draft and though I’m sticking with the same position, I’m going with Lemon this time around,” Kiper wrote.
“He attacks the ball in the air and would be a productive player for Shough after amassing 1,156 yards in 2025. Regardless of whether Chris Olave is in the team’s long-term plans, New Orleans could improve the offense with someone like Lemon running routes out of the slot.”
Lemon tallied 1,156 receiving yards on 79 receptions, resulting in 11 touchdowns for the Trojans last season. He earned an impressive PFSN College Wide Receiver Impact score of 85.1.
