The Kansas City Chiefs hosted USC wide receiver Makai Lemon on a Top 30 visit Thursday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Lemon, the 2025 Biletnikoff Award winner, is also scheduled to visit the Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, and Washington Commanders as the draft approaches. The Chiefs hold the ninth overall pick and could be in a prime position to land the most productive receiver in college football if the board breaks their way.
How Makai Lemon Fits With the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City needs an explosive target to pair with Patrick Mahomes as the franchise looks to bounce back from a disappointing 6-11 season. Lemon profiles as exactly the kind of high-floor receiver who can contribute immediately.
“USC’s Makai Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver in 2025,” The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman wrote. “He’s a stocky 5-11, 192-pounder who is the next in a long line of standout Trojan wideouts, and he draws comparisons to former USC star-turned NFL star Amon-Ra St. Brown. Neither guy has prototype size or will run a 40 in the 4.3s, but both are extremely savvy and quicker than fast.”
Lemon’s 2025 season was dominant. He led the Power Four in receiving yards (1,156) and yards per game (96.3) while recording 79 catches for 11 receiving touchdowns. His route-running, spatial awareness, and yards-after-catch ability earned him an 89.7 PFSN grade, and he is the third-ranked receiver on PFSN’s Big Board.
Over his three-year college career at USC, Lemon recorded 137 receptions for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also had 2 rushing touchdowns in 33 games.
The Chiefs’ selection at No. 9 puts them in an interesting spot. If Ohio State safety Caleb Downs and Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain come off the board before Kansas City’s pick, Lemon could be the best player available.
The New Orleans Saints at No. 8 have been linked to Lemon in several mocks, so the Chiefs may need to watch that selection closely.
Chiefs Could Trade Up for an Elite Pass Rusher
Wide receiver isn’t the only position on Kansas City’s radar, as they could be aggressive to improve their defense through the draft.
“The Chiefs have visited with a couple of really good pass-rushers who should go earlier than they pick, which means, at least they’re looking at the potential of moving up in the draft and taking an edge-rusher who could be potentially elite,” Rapoport reported.
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Texas Tech’s David Bailey and Miami’s Rueben Bain are considered the top two edge prospects in the class, with both projected to go inside the top five. The Chiefs managed just 35 sacks in 2025, tied for 22nd in the league, and made minimal upgrades during free agency.
Kansas City has the draft capital to move up. The Trent McDuffie trade netted pick No. 29 from the Los Angeles Rams, giving general manager Brett Veach two first-rounders to work with.
A package involving pick No. 9, a third-rounder, and future compensation could get the Chiefs into the top-six range, where the Cleveland Browns or the Giants might be willing to deal.
Whether it’s Lemon at No. 9 or a trade up for a pass rusher, the Chiefs are clearly targeting premium talent to accelerate their return to contention.
